‘Did Messi really have to leave?’ – Koeman slams Laporta over Barca management
Robin Bairner
- 3 Mar 2022 04:31 CST
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi may not have had to leave Barcelona, former Camp Nou boss Ronald Koeman said, suggesting that president Joan Laporta had an ulterior motive for the Argentine’s departure.
Koeman was sacked by Barcelona in October following a disappointing start to the season, but in an explosive interview he has suggested that he was not given the support that he deserved.
Indeed, he went so far as to suggest Laporta undermined him at every opportunity.
Speaking to AD, he said: “At the insistence of the club management, I agreed to the departure of some players to balance the accounts. But when you see they signed someone for €55 million shortly after Lionel Messi go, then you ask yourself if there wasn’t something else going on. Why did Messi leave?”
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Koeman claims he lacked Laporta support
Koeman has revealed there was never a strong bond between himself and Laporta, who came to power at Barca in March 2021 following a postponed presidential election.
“I wasn’t Laporta’s coach,” he added. “I had that feeling from the first moment. After the elections, there was no click. The support from above they were missing.
“I really wanted to succeed as a coach at Barcelona, to do everything I could, but I realised that Laporta wanted to get rid of me because he hadn’t chosen me.
“They didn’t give me the time they gave to the new coach, Xavi. It’s still painful for me.
“I was working with a lot of injuries. Now Pedri is back in shape and Ousmane Dembele… You can see everything.
“Every coach needs time and patience from the board. I would have liked the signing of Ferran, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, too.”
Koeman took charge of 67 Barcelona matches in total, winning 40 of those and suffering only 16 defeats.
