Ronald Koeman might not get to fulfill his contractual obligation tying him to FC Barcelona in its entirety. But, according to a report from ESPN, Joan Laporta wants to find a suitable replacement for him first.
A day after another disappointing evening in La Liga for FC Barcelona, Samuel Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN advanced the news on the future of Ronald Koeman. Yesterday’s defeat against Celta de Vigo, which meant Blaugrana is mathematically out of the title race, seems to have even deepened the doubts of the current board over whether the Dutch coach should continue.
According to the sources from inside the club, Laporta is already searching for an appropriate successor of Ronald Koeman. Being a big fan of the emerging school of German managers, Laporta has apparently tried bringing either Hansi Flick or Julian Nagelsmann to Camp Nou, but both had already tied themselves to their new jobs. Flick to the German national team, while Nagelsmann will be replacing him at Bayern Munich.
Xavi Hernandez seems like the clear favorite for the job, but he is in no rush to take the job. His name being previously closely tied with the campaign of the presidential candidate Victor Font, he wants to return to the club when he will feel the time is right. Some of the directors at the club presently also feel that he is not ready yet.
If Laporta is unable to find a suitable replacement in time, it would not be surprising that Koeman and his team will stay for another year. This would mean fulfilling his one year left on the contract. In this case, the club would not be placed under another unnecessary financial burden.
Ronald Koeman has expressed his desire to stay for another season, but the sources told ESPN that he believes the club’s recent run of bad form will most likely result in his departure.
