Current FC Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has a year left on his contract after this season and the Catalans are eager to extend his contract for a longer stay.
The former Netherlands head coach is very hopeful that he will be the manager for Barcelona for many more years to come.
A few months ago Koeman’s place at Camp Nou was in jeopardy owing to his difference with Barcelona chief Joan Laporta. Hence there were talks of replacing the Dutchman. But now evenLaporta looked more than happy with Koeman’s on and off-field activities.
Several reports suggest that he was on the verge of getting sacked but then the management thought of backing him more and now he is here at Camp Nou leading the charge for FC Barcelona.
The former Dutch national team man is very optimistic about his chances of continuing in this role at Barcelona while lauding the likes of Pedri and Ansu Fati, who he considers are the future of Barcelona. “Yes, of course, I am open to renewal. I am very excited to continue as Barca coach for many years, despite the difficult moments at the club today,” he told Sport.
“But I think that thanks to our decisions, coach and technical staff, Barca has young players with a huge immediate future and hopefully within three, four or five years I can continue to be their coach.”
Koeman has been extremely understanding and patient as manager owing to the situation at FC Barcelona this summer. The Catalans had to let go of their best player ever in Lionel Messi and then also it was not enough as Antoine Griezmann also rejoined Atletico Madrid to clear up more wage space.
It would have been a difficult task for any manager to come into a situation of crisis and then allow players like Emerson, Trincao, Messi and Griezmann to leave the side. The Catalans roped in Luuk De Jong in the last hour of the deadline as a direct replacement for Griezmann.
While the Catalans are still fighting to cut their losses, Koeman feels that it would have been his responsibility to stay in Camp Nou as manager.
“I have always believed that I have a duty to help the club where I am, looking for ways to improve the team without compromising the good of the organisation,” he said.
“Of course, what is happening at Barca in recent times is something very special. Everything has happened to me!”
