Marc Vivés has arrived at the helm of FC Barcelona's women's sports management in the perfect storm. He didn't have an easy mission: to deal with the legacy of Markel Zubizarreta, with the departure of Jonatan Giráldez, who will leave the club at the end of the year; with a queue in the infirmary and a long list of eight extensions on the table. Most worrying: Alexia Putellas. The representative of the Barça club, in the negotiations that resumed last November, requested a contract with which she wanted to reach more than a million euros per year and almost one and a half million euros, according to the information published at the time by Diari Ara. So far he has earned “a little less than 800,000 euros per year, mainly at FC Barcelona, but also with the Spanish team,” it said. Barça has now presented the latest proposal and there will be no further negotiations. Either yes or no. She will decide. According to club sources, Barcelona have presented him with their latest and greatest offer. With a significant improvement to the current contract, it is said. With no clear timetable and no deadline, Barcelona are confident the negotiations will end on the right foot. However, as EL PAÍS has learned, Barcelona's offer changed yesterday, Wednesday: it made no difference financially, but rather a reduction of one year from the agreed three years. Nevertheless, Alexia is calm and there will be another meeting in a few days, as there is still no agreement on the current conditions.
Although Alexia's injury has no impact on the contract extension, the club assures, her physical condition will continue to be monitored. Because of pain in his left knee, the same knee he broke a year and a half ago, he is undergoing conservative treatment that will last 15 days. After the Christmas holidays it will be seen whether the prognosis comes true and whether the problems in his bad knee have disappeared. If the treatment doesn't work, it's unknown what the next step would be. However, other sources assure that there is no conservative treatment. The discomfort remains, but a serious injury has been ruled out after various tests and further investigation is being carried out to determine where the pain is coming from and does not go away.
Of the other seven renovations, not all are in the same process. While some players are on the right track – there will be news about Mapi León soon – there are other players who have been told that they have not yet been presented with an offer. It is also up for debate whether or not to use a player in this winter market to cover the many injuries that are overwhelming Barcelona's infirmary. Although the approach of a commitment is economically difficult, they comment from Ciutat Esportiva. The future of the Barça bench is also still unclear following the departure of Giráldez at the end of the season, who officially announced his departure last Monday. The departure is an important part, but not irreplaceable, they explain from the club.
The players are concerned – although not worried – about the unrest following the loss of their coach in June next year. The successor is still unclear, although Barça assures that it will be someone who will continue, who knows and masters the way of working. Someone who fits the project and not the other way around, and for this you look for names both outside and inside the club. The players do not yet know the possible candidates that the sports management is considering, but do not rule out a consultation in the locker room. In any case, the survey will not be decisive. The employees have received an extension offer, but have not yet communicated their decision.
The future of the feminine goes through the grassroots
The sports management of women's football wanted to send a sign of calm for the future of the project. In addition, the club has placed particular emphasis on its commitment to the training base, noting that there will be a significant increase in the budget year after year provided the section is viable.
This Thursday is Barcelona's last game before the year ends at home against Rosengard, which is a sellout. The club says it has considered opening Montjuïc for a match in the Champions League group stage, but with the possibility already ruled out, the intention is to do so for the quarter-finals and semi-finals should they reach them, and also for some league games.
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