Ronald Koeman, the current coach of the Netherlands national team and former Barcelona manager, criticized the management of Barcelona and its president Joan Laporta. During statements made at a charity golf event in the Catalan capital, reported by "Mundo Deportivo," Koeman said, "I fully understand Barcelona's desire and interest in signing Nico Williams (the Spanish forward), as he is a special player."
He added, "But in recent years, Barcelona's problem has been that Messi left, I left, and so did Xavi. The most important thing is to respect people and club legends; this is more important than the pursuit of a player." Koeman continued, "Barcelona is supposed to be at the top, but it has not been able to compete in recent years because the club's management does not work well. I dream of returning to the club, but not as the team's coach; I would prefer to work in sports management, on the condition of working with a different president."
Koeman praised the new Barcelona coach, Hans Flick, stating he is a great person. He conveyed a message to the club president, Joan Laporta, saying, "I hope he has patience with the coach." Koeman considered that Real Madrid surpasses the Catalan club in many areas, adding, "I know that Barcelona has promising players like Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal, but they need a player who can make a difference consistently, like Kylian Mbappe."
He remarked, "Yamal is a special player, but he needs time and no pressure. And if you don't have a player like Messi, things are difficult. There is only one version of Lionel Messi, and we will not see another one in the future."
