{"id":562536,"date":"2020-08-18T16:15:26","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T20:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=562536"},"modified":"2020-08-18T16:21:23","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T20:21:23","slug":"ronald-koeman-to-become-new-barcelona-manager-says-club-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/18\/ronald-koeman-to-become-new-barcelona-manager-says-club-president\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Ronald Koeman to Become New Barcelona Manager’ Says Club President"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman<\/a> will take over at Barcelona.<\/p>\n

Bartomeu\u2019s comments were broadcast on Twitter by Fabrizio Romano<\/a>. The under-fire club president has also claimed that Lionel Messi<\/a> and his family remain happy and willing to stay in Catalonia.<\/p>\n

Josep Bartomeu: Ronald Koeman<\/a> Will Be New Barcelona Manager<\/h2>\n

Bartomeu Also Discusses Lionel Messi<\/a>\u2019s Future<\/h3>\n

Ronald Koeman is soon expected to be formally announced as Barcelona\u2019s new manager.<\/p>\n

The former Everton<\/a> and Southampton<\/a> boss will succeed Quique Setien <\/a>– the now ex-Barca boss was sacked after a humiliating exit from the Champions League.<\/p>\n

Bartomeu has also indicated Koeman’s arrival will be paramount in retaining Lionel Messi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The club president said: “Messi wants to end his career at Bar\u00e7a. I regularly speak to him and his father.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s part of our new project. Koeman will be the new manager and he told me that Messi is a key player for our new project.”<\/p>\n

Barcelona will need to pay compensation to break Koeman from his contract as Holland\u2019s national team manager. A former defender for the club, Koeman is expected to sign a two-year deal at the Nou Camp.<\/p>\n

PSG Unwilling to Sell Neymar, Bar\u00e7a Not in Talks Over Lautaro Martinez<\/a><\/h3>\n

Bartomeu also appeared to pour cold water over rumours linking Neymar with a return to his old club.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeymar back to Barcelona? PSG don\u2019t want to sell him on this summer,\u201d confirmed the 57-year-old<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another forward Barcelona have been linked with in recent weeks is Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The clubs were involved<\/a> in discussions over a transfer, but talks are not currently ongoing over the Argentine international.<\/p>\n

Bartomeu did not, however, rule out any further efforts to sign the player in future: \u201cWe\u2019re not in talks for Lautaro Martinez right now.<\/p>\n

“We stopped negotiations with Inter at the end of June. We\u2019ll see what will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old was on target for Inter again in the Europa League against Shakhtar Donetsk, helping Antonio Conte<\/a>\u2019s side set up a final clash with Sevilla.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>