Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is at crossroads with the club’s ace Lionel Messi over a critical issue surrounding the transfers.
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has decided to show the door to Luis Suarez. The former Liverpool superstar is within touching distance of joining Juventus, with only the player’s release pending. The Catalans want a fee from the Bianconeri, whereas Suarez simply wants to be released and join the Serie A giants.
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One of the main reasons why Lionel Messi wanted to leave was because his closest ally on and off the pitch was being asked to go. However, the Argentinian international has now decided to stay until the next year. Nonetheless, he had been recommending the signing of Lautaro Martinez to the board since several months, but that too seems an issue right now.
Diario GOL has claimed that the new Barca coach has passed on the Inter Milan striker considering the huge costs involved in his quest. Instead, Koeman has asked the club to pursue the much cheaper signing of Olympique Lyon forward Memphis Depay. The Blaugrana are negotiating a 25 million euros’ transfer for the versatile attacker.
Memphis Depay would be a great addition for the La Liga outfit given that his demands are not high, and he is just 26. Additionally, he is capable of playing in a central role, or as a left winger, who provides considerable width and pace. Antoine Griezmann will most likely return to his preferred position and therefore, a striker may not be the need of the hour.
Lionel Messi on the other hand is not a big fan of the Lyon superstar and wants the club to go for his compatriot in Lautaro Martinez. As such, the captain doesn’t even get on well with his French counterpart in Griezmann, so a move for Martinez seems to be of more fruition from the 33-year-old’s perspective with Philippe Coutinho playing on the left.
Who do you think is righteous in their claim, Koeman or Messi?