Lenglet puts Barcelona exit rumours to rest: 'I'm not leaving'

Martin Macdonald

• 5 Jun 2021 14:29 BST

Clement Lenglet insists he will still be a Barcelona player next season despite recent speculation surrounding his future.

The Frenchman, like Barcelona as a whole, wasn’t at his best in the 2020/21 season, though that was partly due to the fact he had a number of different partners at the back.

READ MORE: Xavi reveals he rejected Barcelona return TWICE as Koeman set to stay

Injuries hurt the Blaugrana backline, which led to youngsters like Oscar Mingueza and Ronald Araujo receiving plenty of game time.

Now that Barcelona have addressed the centre-back role slightly with the acquisition of Eric Garcia from Manchester City, the pressure will be on Lenglet to perform or risk losing his place in the team.

There are no guarantees either that Ronald Koeman will not look to sell him.

But, Lenglet himself says he is going nowhere and praised the Dutch boss for his first campaign in charge.

"I do not see myself leaving,” he told Eurosport.

“I resigned a new contract last season. I will be at Barça next season.

"He [Koeman] did a good job in his first year. We had some somewhat complicated periods but also others with a quality of play, victories and a positive image. I hope that we will continue the work undertaken and progress next year.

“We are in the right direction."

Barcelona’s new recruits

Even though the Catalan side are currently in a terrible state financially, they have acted quickly and shrewdly following the conclusion of the last season.

They have signed Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia on free transfers from Manchester City, while Emerson Royal has arrived from Real Betis for €9m

Lenglet has praised the transfer business conducted by the club so far this summer.

“We have recruited two players of very high level with quality, who come from a club that were playing great things,” he said of Aguero and Garcia.

"Barca remains Barca and that will not change."

As for Lionel Messi, the Argentine is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract and could still leave at the end of June.

Lenglet, naturally, wants Messi to stay.

"And Lionel Messi? “ I don't know if I will play with him next year but I hope.”