Spanish football champions Barcelona said on Tuesday that they are not worried about Pep Guardiola’s future at the club.
Barca president Sandro Rosell is keen for Guardiola to sign a new long-term contract, and Lionel Messi and other players have recently said in public that they would like the coach to continue.
However, Guardiola — whose 40th birthday was on Tuesday — has still not announced the extension of his contract, which runs out in June.
Toni Freixa, spokesman for the Barca board, said on Tuesday that the club does not want Guardiola’s future to become the subject of a “permanent debate.” “We have to let our coach work with tranquillity,” added Freixa.
“The agreement about his continuation could feasibly be made as late as July, like last year. I do not think it will be signed soon. The moment will come for us to talk.” Guardiola has guided Messi and company to eight major titles in his record-breaking spell on the Barca bench since 2008.
