The FC Barcelona leadership has already decided that they want Ronald Koeman away as a trainer, but are now only looking for the cheapest solution to do so. So says Simon Kuper, author of the book FC Barcelona – The Empire, a day after the Champions League defeat (3-0) against Benfica.
That too the Spanish media judged harshly The sports journalist who has been following Barcelona for thirty years is not surprised about the disappointing performances of Koeman and Barcelona in recent weeks. “Everyone knows that Barca want to get rid of Koeman, but the problem is money. He should get 12 million euros, but Barcelona just doesn’t have that money.”
According to Kuper, a financial construction will be devised, whereby Koeman will receive a smaller amount upon his departure. The remainder will then be paid to him, spread over a number of years. “There’s just really no euro, so they really can’t give him much now. So how do you do that if there is no money?”
psychological game
Barcelona president Joan Laporta will do everything in his power to let Koeman leave in the cheapest way possible, Kuper expects. “It will be a psychological game: how long will Koeman last if everyone is against him in the club? Koeman still wants to stay, but they will certainly try to bully him away.”
Kuper expects that the Spanish club will be no more than a sub-topper in the coming years, because the club is struggling with a mega debt and Lionel Messi had to leave the club. “There are just few qualities in the team. So firing Koeman is not the solution. That is really a short-term action. Everyone is angry and Laporta is looking for a scapegoat.”
At the beginning of September, Simon Kuper already told Studio Voetbal about the current status of FC Barcelona.
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