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Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has said he is not concerned about the uncertainty surrounding Lionel Messi’s future with the forward now free to negotiate a pre-contract deal with other clubs.
Messi, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and January 1 marked the date he could legally start negotiations with other teams outside of Spain.
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In an interview last week, the Barça captain said he has not yet decided where he will play his football next season, but ruled out talking to other clubs until the end of the campaign.
“He said he doesn’t want to make a decision yet and that we have to respect that,” Koeman said at a press conference ahead of Barça’s league game against Huesca on Sunday.
“Like any player whose contract expires, he is free to decide however he wants. I do not see any problem if he does not make a decision now. We must respect his decision and what he said in the interview. It does not generate nerves or concerns.”
Messi, who has scored 10 goals in all competitions with Koeman, returned to full training this week after missing Eibar’s game on Tuesday with an ankle injury and Barca lost more points without him on the side.
Koeman has included him in the squad for the Huesca game and acknowledges that his team continues to depend on the six-time world player of the year.
“A little bit, yes,” replied the Dutch coach when asked if it was still up to him. “But that has been the case for many years. His performances and effectiveness have been enormous for the club.
“I have seen games from two or three years ago when the team was not playing well, but Leo was there to solve the games. There is a reason why he is number one in the world.”
After Tuesday’s draw with Eibar, Barça are sixth in La Liga, 10 points behind leader Atlético de Madrid, who have a game on their hands, and Koeman says he can’t afford to lose another game if he wants to win the title. .
“We are 10 points behind and you cannot say that we are going to win the league,” he added. “That is being realistic, but it does not mean that we will stop fighting, even if the situation is complicated.
“We can’t lose many more points. Yes [Atletico] If it remains constant throughout the season, it will be very difficult. We cannot lose another game if we want to fight for the title. Every lost point is a missed opportunity. “
Source: espn.co.uk
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