Quique Setien became the coach of FC Barcelona on January 13, to succeed the sacked Ernesto Valverde, in a rather particular climate. Between the criticisms of the poverty of the game, the disputed management of the club by Josep Maria Bartomeu and the many hot files of the transfer window, the Spanish coach arrived in a tense context, which he cleared in his own way over the weeks. But the files concerning the future transfer window continue to accumulate, without anyone knowing if Setien has a say in it.
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His interview in La Gazzetta dello Sport this Friday has the merit of giving elements of response since Setien evoked all the cases regularly relayed by the Spanish press. He spoke for example of Neymar, announced in the viewfinder of the Catalan club. “Talking about the market today is risky. The vast majority of companies will have to readjust their budgets. The large sums of money recently paid to players will no longer be plausible, at least in the short term. That’s why I don’t think anyone can spend € 222m on Neymar or anyone. “ Setien therefore follows the latest information on the subject, namely that Barça will not be able to pay for such a transfer.
Especially since the Catalan club is involved in another soap opera, concerning Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine striker from Inter Milan. “He is an important player, a very great player. And Barça is still interested in the big players. But in these times without football, there is a new name every day. (…) Lautaro pleases Messi? You have to ask him. Joking aside, it’s obvious that all good players interest Barça. Just like the prospect of playing with Messi can entice many players to come. Who wouldn’t want to play with Messi? “
Setien sends a message to Fabian Ruiz
He also supported his player Arthur, who seems destined to become a bargaining chip but who wants to stay in Catalonia. “Among other things, Arthur has already said twice that he wanted to stay at Barça and I understand that perfectly. In his place, I would think like him: I would not leave a team like this, with the chance of having the best player in the world by his side. And a great trainer! “, did he declare.
Finally, Setien spoke of another player playing in Italy who likes Barça and whom he knows well, Fabian Ruiz. “I trained him for a year (at Betis, editor’s note) and that was enough to show that he was a very great player, at an extraordinary level, with enormous potential which he quickly showed. With me, he was comfortable because I put him in a football context that made him feel good. “ In the viewfinder of Barça but also of Real Madrid, Fabian Ruiz may be sensitive to the presence of his former coach on the bench.
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