FUTURE ORANGE FOR BARCELONA
New boss Koeman takes Dutch courage
And he’s got his eye on a couple of Dutch masters — with Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum top of his shopping list.
Memphis Depay is the other Netherlands ace tipped to sign for the Catalans.
Koeman knows both men well from their time with the national squad as he tries to capture the spirit brought to Barca by Johan Cruyff.
And former Nou Camp star Ronald De Boer thinks both players will do well in Spanish football. But he is also warning his countryman to sign some players who don’t come from Holland.
He said: “Wijnaldum could be the cement between the stones.
“And Memphis really adds something individually, he can create something out of nothing.
“In my time at Barcelona you had the feeling that the Dutch- Spanish ratio was 5050. There were 11 or 12 Dutch people in the team, including the technical staff.
“In retrospect, that wasn’t good. You really have to take that into account, you have to make sure that you don’t just buy Dutch people. Of course, you also see this with German and Portuguese coaches, they also attract a lot of fellow countrymen to their clubs.
“As a coach, you attract players that you know well and who suit you well in terms of mentality and character.
“But it would be strong if Ronald Koeman gets a good player from the Spanish league.”
Messi has decided to stay at the Nou Camp after the club refused to let him leave for less than his £ 625m release clause.
Not even one of the big Chinese clubs would spend that much on a 33- year- old who will be available on a free next summer. And it’s clear that the Argie ace’s days in Spain are numbered.
Messi says he has been telling the club for months that he wants out.
He added: “Everything became very difficult for me and there came a time when I considered looking for new goals.
“I told the president and well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word.
“It hurt me when my love for this club was questioned. No matter how much I go or stay, my love for Barca will never change.”