Laudrup's agent claims Dane was Barcelona chief Bartomeu's preference over Valverde LaLiga - Barcelona New coach needed to succeed Luis Enrique

According to Bayram Tutumlu, Michael Laudrup was a leading contender to succeed Luis Enrique in the Barcelona dugout last summer.

Names such as Juan Carlos Unzue and Ernesto Valverde were also in the running for the role, with the latter picked despite an apparent preference for Laudrup by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"In May, my adviser Evren Sahin and I invited the owner of Brondby, Jan Bech Andersen, to visit my good friend Josep Maria Bartomeu in Barcelona," Tutumlu told the Danish media.

"Bartomeu told me that Laudrup was one of his favorites to replace Luis Enrique.

Tutumlu and Bartomeu together

"But the club finally chose Ernesto Valverde."

Currently managing Al-Rayyan, Laudrup has had offers to manage Atletico Madrid in 2009/10 and Paris Saint-Germain, while coach of Swansea City, according to Tutumlu, with the opportunity to return to Europe this summer.

"I have received calls from Germany, Spain, France, Italy and England," he claimed, with Laudrup's contract up in a few months' time.

"It depends on him and where he wants to be a coach in Europe again."