New Barcelona boss Koeman insists he wants to keep captain Messi at the Nou Camp
New Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman will hold talks with skipper Lionel Messi to thrash out his future and insists he wants the striker to stay.
The 57-year-old Dutchman was named as Quique Setien’s replacement on a two-year deal yesterday having left his role as manager of the Netherlands.
Messi, who has scored 634 goals for Barca, has seen his future called into question amid the ongoing crisis at the club and Koeman will schedule talks with the Argentina star.
“He’s still got a contract and is still a Barcelona player,” said Koeman. “At this point I need to speak to him because he is the captain. We need to work with him and speak with various players. We need to make some decisions but in Messi’s case I hope he stays with us.
“I don’t know if I have to convince Messi [to stay], whether it’s that or not. He is the best player in the world and the best player in the world you want in your team, you don’t want him playing against you.
“As a coach I would love to work with Messi because he wins matches. If he’s at the ability and level he has always shown I’d be more than happy for him to stay.”
The Dutchman has been drafted in following Setien’s swift exit in the wake of last Friday night’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich.
He is the third man to take charge this calendar year, with Setien having only succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January.
Along with Koeman, Barcelona have named Ramon Planes as their new technical director following the dismissal of Eric Abidal. Planes had been working under Abidal as his assistant.
Former Southampton and Everton boss Koeman will inherit a side which finished five points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid and failed to win a major trophy this season for the first time since 2013-14. Barca last won the Champions League in 2015 under Luis Enrique.
Koeman returns having spent six years as a player with the Catalan giants.
The defender, nicknamed “Tintin”, made 350 appearances and scored 106 goals as part of Johan Cruyff ’s “Dream Team” between 1989 and 1995.
He claimed ten trophies – four league titles, a European Cup, a Copa del Rey, a European Super Cup and three Spanish Super Cups.
He is perhaps most fondly remembered for his winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final against Sampdoria at Wembley.