Ronald Koeman, former coach of FC Barcelona, ??strongly criticized the present and the club’s transfer policy. He did it this Friday in the middle of the presentation of the Koeman Cup, a charitable golf and paddle tennis tournament that will be held at the Barcelona Golf Club.
The Dutch strategist took the opportunity to comment on the signings that the Blaugrana club has been making in recent years. “I speak from the outside because I’m not inside and I can’t give an opinion on exactly what there is, but I think that in the transfers you can discuss the years of the players, about whether there is a future. From the outside I think that neither financially nor football-wise they are working to the future.”, sentenced Koeman.
Specifically, he mentioned the additions of Robert Lewandowski the previous season, and the recent signing of Ilkay Gundogan by Barça. “For a club that has to look to the future, of course there are young people, but I think that the structure also has to be for the next few years and Gundogan cannot be discussed, nor Lewandowski, nor other players who come, but I I think that’s only for two or three years.”
He insisted on that subject, again mentioning the Pole and the German. “There is no need to discuss a signing like Gundogan, because I think he is a great player, a good professional like Lewandowski. But they are for a short time because they are of a certain age, so you cannot sign two or three every season of those players. I know that there are young people, but I also think that signing a 22-year-old player is much better for the future than a 33- or 34-year-old”.
In addition, Koeman also compared the present with what he had to live at the head of the club. “Every situation cannot be compared, when I was coach there was no money, there were no chances of signing so of course I have seen that there were players like Pedri, Gavi, Nico and some other very good talents. In the Netherlands we are used to giving opportunities young people and for me it doesn’t matter if it’s a 20-year-old or a 32-year-old, but I do believe that like any club you also have to work to have a good future”.
The Dutchman did not hesitate to talk about Messi’s departure and what it meant for the club. “It was a big mistake to let him go. I always had the hope that he would continue his whole life at Barça, it was a big mistake to let him go.”
Finally, after being asked about his relationship with Laporta and whether he would have a coffee with the current Blaugrana president, he was blunt: “Not yet, it’s not necessary.” Finally, he gave his opinion on the treatment that was made with him at the end of his time as the team’s coach.
“It’s more because of the person I am, I know there’s a risk as a coach when things don’t go well. You can throw out a coach, I don’t have any problem, it’s not the first time it’s happened to me. It’s the way treating someone, an important person for the club and it has not been a very honest deal and that is why I have my things and my thoughts”, concluded Koeman.
The Dutch coach was on the FC Barcelona bench from August 19, 2020 until October 21, 2021, when he was fired after the results were not as expected.
