three-year deal with the Catalan
club to replace outgoing boss Tito
Vilanova and is set to be
announced by the Blaugrana on
Tuesday
By Ben Hayward in Barcelona
Gerardo Martino has agreed a three-year
deal to replace Tito Vilanova as Barcelona
coach and is set to be announced by the
Catalan club on Tuesday.
Martino, nicknamed 'Tata', impressed
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta
when the two spoke via video conference
on Monday and the Argentine will travel
to the Catalan capital in the coming hours
to put pen to paper after Vilanova
stepped down on Friday to continue his
treatment for cancer.
Barca sources claimed late on Monday the
deal was still to be ratified by the board,
but an agreement has already been
reached for Martino to join the Spanish
side.
The 50-year-old, who will be accompanied
at Camp Nou by fitness coach Elvio
Paolorroso and assistant Jorge Pautasso,
has beaten former Barcelona midfielder
Luis Enrique to the post.
Luis Enrique joined fellow Liga side Celta
Vigo only last month and his signing
proved complicated so late into the
summer, with the Galician outfit already
well into their preparations for the new
season.
Martino will be the fourth Argentine to
coach Barcelona (after Helenio Herrera,
Roque Olsen and Cesar Luis Menotti) and
links up with fellow Rosario native Lionel
Messi.
Messi has spoken highly of the former
Newell's and Paraguay coach and the
attacker's brother Matias congratulated
Martino on Monday evening. "Welcome
Tata!!" he wrote on Twitter. "Let's hope
we can continue on the right path!!
Thanks Tito!! God bless you!!"
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel
'Pocho' Lavezzi also showed support for
his compatriot on the social network site.
"How cool that Barcelona have chosen an
Argentine to be their coach," he wrote.
"Total success, Tata!"
Martino is set to be announced by Barca
on Tuesday and is likely to be unveiled by
the Catalan club later this week. In the
meantime, Jordi Roura will take charge of
Wednesday's friendly against Bayern
Munich.
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