Just-in: Barcelona confirm Koeman as new manager
FC Barcelona have confirmed Ronald Koeman as their new manager – and want the Dutchman will oversee a huge squad overhaul.
According to Diario AS, as reported by the Daily Mail, former Barca star and current Netherlands manager Koeman now replaced Setien.
The former Barca captain was spotted in the city on Sunday and it’s now emerged a contract is close to being settled.
Koeman will be offered a two-year contract, though the second year will be determined by the presidential election. A release from the Dutch FA is expected to be a formality.
While former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is a favourite of president Josep Maria Bartomeu, it’s been agreed amongst board members that Koeman is the better option at this stage in the club’s history.
Koeman is a big favourite of the Barca support and his return would ease the tension between fans and the current regime.
It is also claimed that one of his first acts will be to oversee a mammoth restructure of the underachieving squad, who also missed out on the La Liga title this season.
BREAKING NEWS: Ronald Koeman has been chosen as Barcelona's new manager https://t.co/wWO1k6Lf9Q pic.twitter.com/TdWykklq6L
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) August 17, 2020
In fact, seven first-team players face the axe, with the report naming Ivan Rakitic, Ousmane Dembele, Arturo Vidal, Arthur Melo, Junior Firpo, Martin Braithwaite and Samuel Umtiti.
Melo is already on his way out, having agreed to join Juventus, and the Barca board hope to raise a further £90m to fund Koeman’s summer transfer business.
Meanwhile one of the biggest transfers of recent years could be about to happen, with Manchester City the front-runners to sign Lionel Messi.
Spain’s Esporte Interativo reports Messi has demanded an immediate exit from beleaguered Barcelona after Friday’s 8-2 Champions League embarrassment, which he felt was the result of a long-term lack of planning at the Catalan club.
read also:Ramos breaks Ronald Koeman’s La Liga goal record
City, one of only a small list of clubs that could accommodate Messi’s wage demands, are first in line to sign the 33-year-old, a move which would reunite him with one of Barca’s most successful managers, Pep Guardiola.
It remains to be seen whether Messi would make the move, but it’s expected to be a busy summer for Barca as the inquest into their underwhelming season continues.