Koeman SLAMS Barcelona’s transfer business

Tom Hancock

• 7 Jul 2023 11:27 BST
• 3 min read

Ronald Koeman has criticised Barcelona’s approach to transfers, questioning his former club’s continued signing of players in their 30s.

Barca’s two signings so far this summer have both been 32-year-olds: Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez – who joined the La Liga champions as free agents after leaving Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao respectively.

And Koeman – who made more than 250 appearances for the Blaugrana and spent just over 12 months as manager, before being replaced by Xavi – has his reservations about such business.

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Speaking ahead of the Koeman Cup charity golf tournament, the Dutch legend – who is now in his second spell in charge of the Netherlands national team – said:

“From the outside, you can discuss the [ages] of the players with the transfers. Neither financially nor football-wise, they [Barcelona] are working for the future. Gundogan is a great player, but it should also have been earlier. For a club that must look to the future... They are signings for two or three years.

“You have to work to have a good future. I'm not discussing Gundogan, but you cannot sign two or three players of these ages every season; a signing of a 22-year-old player is better than one of 32 or 33, thinking about the future.”

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An over-reliance on experience?

Last summer, Barca’s signings includes Robert Lewandowski and Marcos Alonso – who were both over 30 when they arrived – and, while Xavi’s side went on to secure the 2022/23 La Liga title, Koeman does have a point: these are not acquisitions for the long term.

Barcelona did balance things out by bringing in the likes of Jules Kounde and Raphinha – both in their mid-20s – during the same transfer window, but they did rely on veterans in some key positions.

Among them was Sergio Busquets, whose recent departure means there are now no players left at the club from Pep Guardiola’s glorious tenure.