BARCELONA (Reuters) - Sevilla president Pepe Castro said on Tuesday he expects coveted coach Jorge Sampaoli to remain at the club next season, shrugging off reports that Barcelona are interested in hiring the Argentine for the vacant Camp Nou job. In his debut campaign in European soccer, former Chile coach Sampaoli has secured Sevilla's best ever points total in the first half of a season and led them to a three-way tilt for the Spanish title with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Those achievements, and the thrilling style of play his side have served up, have won Sampaoli admirers and led to reports he could succeed Luis Enrique at Barcelona next campaign. But Castro said he believed the coach, whose current deal runs until June 2018, would remain loyal to Sevilla. Luis Enrique announced earlier in the month he will leave Barcelona at the end of this season.

Source: The Star March 14, 2017 16:32 UTC