Luis Enrique looming as favorite for Barca job

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Celta Vigo coach Luis Enrique looks to be the clear favorite to replace Gerardo 'Tata' Martino at FC Barcelona after holding talks with Barca's Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday.

Both Luis Enrique and Zubizarreta were photographed entering the house the current Celta coach owns in the town of Gava, which is just south of Barcelona.

Two members of the Barcelona technical staff, Albert Valentin and Marcis Julia were also present at the meeting in which it is thought Enrique and Zubizarreta discussed the Barcelona job.

Luis Enrique, who spent eight years as a Barcelona player before coaching the club's B-team for three seasons between 2008- 2011, has emerged as the front-runner for the Barcelona job after Ernesto Valverde, who this season has taken Athletic Club Bilbao into the Champions League, ruled himself out.

Martino has another year on his contract with the club, but speaking to the press after his side's 2-2 draw at home to lowly Getafe on Saturday, he made a series of declarations which made it clear he does not expect to continue in his role for another season.

"I am the maximum person responsible for the bad season," said Martino, when asked if he felt he deserved a second chance at the club.

"Sometimes you feel you have not done enough (to get a second chance). I will look at my feelings before saying anything. It has not been a good season either on a personal level or for Barcelona. It has been difficult for football and non-football reasons." "It is not a question of happiness, but I have not been able to impart my intentions on the team and we have never been able to offer the best level of Barcelona," said Martino.

Although Enrique would be a popular choice to return to Barcelona, the timing of his meeting with Zubizarreta and the fact it has become public is not perfect, given that following Atletico Madrid's defeat to Levante and Real Madrid's home draw with Valencia on Sunday, Barca are suddenly back in the title race and one result they need to go their way is when Luis Enrique's current club, Celta entertain Real Madrid on Sunday evening.

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