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Ronald Koeman has landed at Barcelona with no intention of wasting time. His two priorities have been to push the commitment of Leo messi and try to win him over to his cause, and regenerate an outdated and exhausted wardrobe. «I like to be direct and have good communication with the players. I do brief meetings, but I make the message clear », he assured yesterday in an interview with the official media of the Catalan club. And he proved it throughout the morning. Luis Suárez, Arturo Vidal, Samuel Umtiti and Ivan Rakitic already know that they have no place in the Dutchman’s project. It was the technician himself who communicated it by phone in a brief, but frank and transparent conversation.
The first big casualty will be Luis Suarez, that in the six years that he has worn the Barcelona shirt he climbed to the third place of the scorers in the club’s history. Despite the fact that the Uruguayan was willing to assume a secondary role, the decision had already been made and in a conversation that lasted just a minute Koeman made it clear that he did not count on him. Suárez did not ask for an explanation, although he feels hurt with the entity for the treatment they are giving him. With 33 years and two knee operations in the last year, Barcelona will have to negotiate his departure to try to save the 15 million euros that he receives annually. Amortized and with an offer from Ajax, the club will try to convince him to accept an exchange for Van de Beek. However, if he accepted the letter of freedom in exchange for the settlement, the Catalan club would be satisfied. The departure of Suárez will reactivate interest in Lautaro Martínez, from Inter.
Vidal, Rakitic and Umtiti, out
In a similar situation is Arturo vidal. With a market in Italy and Germany (he has stood out in Juventus and Bayern), Barcelona will try to force a downward transfer or a barter with which to minimize the 7 million euros remaining to be amortized of his purchase (Barça paid 22 million to Bayern and the player signed until 2021). The fixed 10.5 million euros plus bonus will significantly lighten the club’s salary mass.
Ivan Rakitic He was also waiting for Koeman’s call, as the club had been trying to include him in different operations for two years and Valverde relegated him to second place this past season. Fully amortized and with a salary of about 8 million euros, the Croatian has always made it clear that he is the master of his destiny. After having expressed his unconditional love for Sevilla and his intention to return one day to Nervión (His wife and in-laws are from the Pino Montano neighborhood), he could fulfill the desire if he is free.
Nor will it continue Samuel umtiti, which still has two years of contract and a token of 7 million fixed plus another two in variables. His battered knee (it has cartilage wear), his behavior and his poor performance since he renewed in 2018 have left him without credit. Junior is also on the discard list. The coin fell face to face for Jordi Alba, of which Koeman believes he still has a journey. Piqué and Busquets are waiting for the technician’s call.
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