Dutch media reports said today, Tuesday, that the Dutch national football team coach Ronald Koeman is close to a contract to train Barcelona for a period of three years, and a club source revealed that negotiations with the coach began immediately after the historic 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich.
While the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona club general manager Oscar Grau is already in the Netherlands to personally negotiate with Dutch Football Association officials, and to reach an agreement with Koeman's agent regarding the signing, but for two years, not three years, as the Dutch newspapers reported.
The newspaper added that Koeman's contract with the Dutch Federation, which lasts until the end of the European Nations Cup, which was postponed to next year, includes a clause that allows Koeman to leave in the event that he receives an offer to train Barcelona.
And an official source in Barcelona revealed that negotiations with Koeman began after the humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, right before the official announcement Monday of the dismissal of the team's coach, Quique Setien.
Quique Setien leaves the first team coaching. During the next few days, the new coach will be appointed as part of a comprehensive restructuring. pic.twitter.com/jpz3xNhxSC
- FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) August 17, 2020
The 57-year-old does not hide a secret that coaching Barcelona is a dream, while Dutch media said he feels that the opportunity will not be repeated to agree to the leadership of the Spanish giant.
Koeman's decision may become easier given the uncertainty about the future of international football in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. There are doubts about holding the Nations League matches next month due to the high cases in Europe, as well as the postponement of the European Championship to next year.
Koeman began his coaching career in 1998 in Barcelona, who had long starred in his ranks as assistant coach Louis van Gaal.