Barcelona: Ronald Koeman reveals his suspicion over Messi exit

The Dutchman has broken his silence after being sacked in October.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has questioned the club’s decision to not renew Lionel Messi’s contract last summer.

Messi left Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain in August as a free agent. In his farewell press conference, the Argentine said the rigidity of La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules forced contract renewal talks between himself and the club to break down.

But Barcelona later signed Ferran Torres from Manchester City in January for a €55 million fee, leaving Koeman surprised and a little suspicious.

🇪🇸 Barcelona's January business:

✍️ Ferran Torres (£55m)
✍️ Dani Alves (Free)
✍️ Adama Traore (Loan to buy)
✍️ Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

Not bad for a club with no money! 👏 pic.twitter.com/uSlx26140O

— BabaIjebu (@playbabaijebu) February 1, 2022

‘Why did Messi have to go?’

Speaking to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, he said: “I accepted the departure of certain players due to the club’s insistence so that they could put the finances in order.

“But then when you see them sign [Ferran Torres] for 55 million euros soon after letting Lionel Messi leave, you ask yourself if something else was going on.

“Why did Messi have to go?”

What next for Barcelona?

Life without Messi hit Barcelona at the start of the season, resulting in Koeman’s dismissal in October.

The Catalan side, however, have recovered some of their best form under the Dutchman’s replacement, Xavi Hernandez. They head to Elche on Sunday hoping to make it four wins in a row. The bookies certainly expect it, pricing a Barca win at 1.40 at the time of writing.