Former Barcelona manager questions Lionel Messi’s departure
Barcelona was once the king of Europe and the world. No one was on the level of that team and they had built a formidable castle that could not be taken down by any other team. Their fortunes were not just a result of buying players either, they made players and those players lifted the Barca legacy to the very top of the world. Now, however, they no longer hold that crown and the club needs to be rebuilt. Xavi Hernandez, one of the biggest Barca legends, has been given the responsibility to bring them back to glory however, there is one man who is not happy with the club and his name is Ronald Koeman.
Koeman, another Catalan legend, was appointed by the previous board of directors to lead the club back into glory and the Dutchman accepted that responsibility. He came into the club in a very tough time and he tried his best. However, his best was not enough and after a series of underwhelming performances, he was let go of by the new club president, Joan Laporta. Since then, Koeman has questioned the new management and has even asked why was Lionel Messi allowed to leave.
Koeman questions Barcelona’s Lionel Messi’s departure decision
In a recent interview with AD, he said,
"“It was at the insistence of the club’s hierarchy that I agreed to the departure of certain players to help put the finances in order, but then when you see that they sign someone for €55m shortly after letting Messi go, it makes you wonder if something else was happening. Why did Messi have to leave?”Source ESPN"
According to Koeman, if Barca had the cash to pay for Ferran Torres, and if a lot of players left the club in order to keep the club alive, why did they not just try harder to keep Messi. The Argentine was apparently allowed to leave because the club could not pay him and maintain the La Liga salary cap but in all honesty, there was probably a way to keep him. The former manager has accused Laporta for not keeping his words but what is done is done and now Barca must move on without Messi.
Next. Barcelona prepare a massive offer for Erling Haaland. dark
Should Barcelona have kept Lionel Messi?