Koeman does not know Messi's future with Barcelona

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman expressed his hope on Wednesday that the two-match ban imposed on Lionel Messi would be "eased" after he received a red card in the Spanish Super Cup final, which he lost to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

"The club told me that it is (the penalty) for two matches. The club does not agree, so we will see," Koeman said, sighing at a press conference on the eve of Barcelona's meeting with third-division Cornia on Thursday in the 32nd round of the Copa del Rey.

He added, "There are things that can be defended, and I hope the penalty will be reduced. Otherwise, we will play two matches without Leo."

In response to a question about the statement of the Argentine, Mauricio Pochettino, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, on Tuesday night to the Spanish radio, "Cadena Ser," when he added that "everyone dreams of having the best players with him," Coman said firmly, "and I too, if you are asked if you are interested in (the Brazilian) ) Neymar and (Frenchman Kylian) Mbappe, I will say yes!

But he also avoided elaborating on the answer, saying, "I don't know what might happen in the future."

Between the jaws of the financial crisis and the need to reinforce its ranks, Barcelona is locked in delicate negotiations in the winter transfer window.

The Spanish Football Federation punished Messi by suspending him for two matches, for his expulsion during the local Super Cup final, which Barcelona lost to Bilbao 2-3 after extending Sunday.

Messi was sent off for the first time in 735 matches in his career with the first team shirt for Barcelona after receiving a red card directly, after resorting to the technique of video assistant referee "VAR" for hitting Asier Vialiber without a ball in the last minute of the second extra half.

The Catalan club confirmed on Tuesday that it would "resume the penalty" to reduce or cancel it.

Coman pointed out that Messi "trained eagerly, I did not see anything strange in him. Everyone was sad about the result of the Super Cup, but we are moving forward, we are on the right path and Leo is a partner in that a lot."

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