Ronald Koeman has got one hell of a job on his hands.It’s always been his dream to manage Barcelona but he’ll only be too aware that he’s walking into a mess of a club.They were comfortably beaten to the La Liga title by Real Madrid and their season ended in humiliation as they were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final.If that wasn’t bad enough, reports have since emerged suggesting Lionel Messi has had enough.No Barca manager has walked into a job and immediately had to convince Messi to stay at the club.But that should be the first task on Koeman’s agenda.
"I don't know if I have to convince Messi [to stay]," Koeman said after he was appointed. "He is the best player in the world, and you always want to have him in your team."On my part, as a coach, I love working with Messi because he wins games. If he performs, I'll be happy if he wants to stay."Starting today, I'll talk to him. We are going to work and talk with several players. In the case of Messi, hopefully he will continue here for more years.
"If I say here what I am going to say, it would not be necessary for me to meet with him. I am the coach in order to make decisions."Once again, he has a year left on his contract. He is the important player you want in your team as a coach."Messi actually cut his holiday short to talk to Barcelona’s new manager on Thursday.But what was said?Well, according to reliable Barcelona outlet RAC1, Messi has told his new manager that he “does not see his future at the club clearly.” The six-time Ballon d’Or winner stated that he’s “more outside than inside the club.”
However, there’s hope for Barca…kinda.
The same report reveals Messi also acknowledged that it will be difficult to leave the club due to his “contractual conditions.”
Messi’s current contract expires next summer and he’s got a release clause of €700m. Not to mention his astronomical wages. It’s simply not feasible for a club to sign the 33-year-old if it’s not a free transfer.
Even then, clubs will really have to break the bank to sign him.
It could be a case of Messi having to stay at the Camp Nou because, simply, no club can afford to sign him.