The breakthrough in negotiations follows a series of high-level meetings involving Zahavi and the Barcelona hierarchy. Zahavi, who maintains a close personal friendship with president Joan Laporta, met with sporting director Deco to finalise the financial and sporting parameters of the extension. It is understood that the rapport between all parties made the process incredibly smooth.
The club had been working on this plan since April, identifying Flick as the ideal man to lead the first two years of Laporta’s new mandate, which is officially scheduled to begin on July 1. The stability provided by this agreement is seen as vital for the club's continued growth.