Newly appointed Barca boss Ronald Koeman says he is willing to hold talks with Lionel Messi to ensure he stays at the club.
Ronald Koeman has no intention to let the club’s top man leave. Much has been made about Lionel Messi and his future at Barcelona.
The Catalan side were far from their dominant selves in the just concluded season. Domestically, they lost the title to fierce rivals Real Madrid. It got even worse on the European front. They were humiliated out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich with an 8-2 scoreline.
The club have now brought in one of their former players and legends in Ronald Koeman to bring the club back to order.
Of course, it would make sense that the captain must align with the head coach’s plans in any setup at all. More than once, rumors have surfaced claiming Lionel Messi wants to leave Barca this summer.
Club president Josep Bartomeu has denied those rumors but who knows if there is something tangible to it.
Ronald Koeman is not taking any chances and says he will sit down to hold talks with Messi. Speaking of his plans for the team, the manager boldly says he wants the Argentine to remain at the club for a few more years.
“I don’t know if I have to convince Messi or not,” he said as quoted by Goal.
“You want to have the best in the world in your team, not the opposite.”
“I want to work with Messi. He wins you games and, if he provides the performances he has always shown, I’ll be happy if he wants to stay.
“He has a contract. I have to talk to him, because he is the captain of the team. We are going to work and talk with several players. And in the case of Messi, I hope that he will be here for many more years.”
Koeman added: “What I talk to Messi, there are private things between player and coach. We will talk about what he thinks of Barcelona and then I will make decisions.
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