Former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has issued a jibe at the club over their move to sign Ilkay Gundogan.
Despite City’s attempts to retain him at the Etihad Stadium, Gundogan opted to accept Barcelona’s free transfer offer, and sign a two-year contract in Catalonia.
Gundogan’s arrival is viewed as bringing experience into a team, which despite a superb La Liga title win last season, lack veterans after the exits of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
The deal also continues Barcelona’s recent transfer pattern of signing established players for free as their previous contracts expire at other European sides.
However, despite the plan looking to be clear, Koeman believes Barcelona are not following a coherent path by bringing in this type of player.
“Gundogan is a great player, but he should have been signed earlier in his career. For a club that’s looking to the future… these are signings for the next two or three years”, as per reports from Marca.
“He’s a great professional but it’s short term. You cannot sign two or three players at these ages every season, you have to work to the future. Signing a 22-year-old player is better than one of 33 or 34.”
Angry Man loses the plot once again. The club are using their limited resources to go after as many young talents as possible, and eleven youth players have been chosen for the preseason. Many of the top La Masia talents have trained and will be training with the first team throughout the season, so no one is neglecting the youth. Barca still have to win, however (which is something Koeman didn’t do, which is why he got sacked), so players that can contribute now must be brought in almost exclusively on free transfers in order that those limited funds can be instead directed toward signing top youth talent. Unless Koeman has a list of 22 year olds capable of contributing immediately AND arriving on free transfers, he should check his grudge and think big picture before he spouts off again.
You are absolutely spot on friend. Koeman, just like Tony Frexier seems jobless to me. If you’re not at the helm of control or decision-making in Barcelona, why run your mouth and try to appear smarter than everyone working to see the club progress? Some old, bitter folks will just never grow.
I agreed with you guy, how did he feel when we the Culers were without any Cup since 2019. Going for the experience with short time and gradually having younger ones as back up and learning from the experienced is better. Imagine how early exit from champion league is affecting our finances etc. Koeman should free us first.
Koeman needs to concentrate on his own job which is the Netherlands which lets be honest he’s not exactly doing a great job at there either.