Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde may have to speak in Negreira case

Former Spain coach Luis Enrique and current Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde, both at different stages of their careers, will have to testify in relation to the 'Negreira case', according to El País. 

Both the Asturian and the txingurri are included in the complaint of the Public Prosecutor's Office about Barça in relation to the referee reports - per El Pais - and both will have to explain if they knew about the existence of these reports. 

Barça paid out, according to official sources, a total of 7.3 million euros to the then vice-president of the Technical Arbitration Committee, José María Enríquez Negreira, between 2001 and 2018, something that has caused an earthquake in national football.

In his statement to the Treasury during a tax inspection, the former refereeing leader confirmed that Barça paid him for "verbal consultancies" with the intention of ensuring he received "neutral" refereeing. 

Former Barça coach between 2017 and 2020, Ernesto Valverde, has publicly commented that he was unaware of the existence of such reports: "In Barcelona I didn't even know they existed. I had no idea about all this". 

For the moment, the club has shown an image of calm and serenity. FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated his position on his personal Twitter profile: "Culers, stay calm. Barça is innocent of what they are accused of and the victim of a campaign against their honour in which now everyone is involved."