Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Barca want Guardiola extension

Barca want Guardiola extension

Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants the club's future to include Pep Guardiola as manager.

The 38-year-old has proved a huge success in management after guiding the Catalans to a historic La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey Treble in his debut season.

Success balanced against the aesthetic and clinical style favoured by Guardiola has only served to increase the praise of the former Barcelona player and would make him an extremely popular choice at any other club.

Laporta, therefore, is eager to secure the ex-Spain international to a new deal before his current agreement expires at the end of this season.

Very important

"It is very important that he takes his time and that he is completely convinced of having made the right choice," Laporta told RAC1 .

"I want to imagine the future of Barcelona with Guardiola."

Guardiola has remained silent on what he wants to do and speculation has suggested that he is waiting to discover the identity of a successor to Laporta, whose presidency expires in 2010.

But Laporta said the extension of Guardiola's contract, "will not depend on who will be the new president of Barca."

Barcelona have also won the Spanish Supercup, European Supercup and Club World Cup during Guardiola's tenure.



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