The president of FC Barcelona is looking for a successor to Quique Setién as coach. According to the Catalan press, Josep Bartomeu would try this Monday to convince the Netherlands coach, Ronald Koeman. A file difficult to finalize.
Forced to rebuild in depth after the disaster against Bayern Munich (8-2) in the quarter-final of the champions League, Barca launched the great maneuvers.
While waiting for Quique Setién’s departure to become official, Josep Bartomeu is already working to find him a replacement. And according to the newspaper Sport, the catalan president would negotiate “personally” with Ronald Koeman, the current coach of the Netherlands.
Koeman in pole for the post-Setien
Before the crisis meeting scheduled this Monday, the leader of the club blaugrana hopes to arrive with good news. Regularly announced in the sights of Barca, Ronald Koeman would even have, according to rumors, a clause in his contract allowing him to join Catalonia.
With the departures of Quique Setién and Eric Abidal, the technician of 57 years could have a nice freedom at the head of the athlete. The Batave would be don in pole position to take the reins of the team even if the track leading to Mauricio Pochettino would still be active.
The Euro is fast approaching
Former defender of Barca, Ronald Koeman has never hidden his sympathy or desire to coach the club blaugrana. Nevertheless, and this may explain why Josep Bartomeu chose to contact the technician directly, his arrival is far from assured.
Under contract until 2022 at the head of the Netherlands team, the coach could refuse to leave his post less than a year from the Euro where he will aim for the title.
What guarantees for Koeman?
Another key point could hold back negotiations with Ronald Koeman. After the rout in the Champions League, Barca clearly need to start a new cycle. Many players are announced about the start and even the future of Lionel Messi seems uncertain. The Dutch coach would also not have a large envelope to recruit at the summer mercato and thus shape a team to his liking.
Similarly, with the presidential elections scheduled for March 2021, Ronald Koeman has no assurance of firing on the Barca bench. After only one season, he could be asked to leave to give way to Xavi Hernandez. So many uncertainties that do not facilitate his arrival on the bench of Catalans.