"We both have to tell" : Former manager Ronaldo Koeman's

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman wanted Lionel Messi to sign a contract extension, as he did not want to lose the best player in the world.

After 17 trophy-laden seasons, Messi bid Barcelona a tearful goodbye in the summer of 2021. Due to financial turmoil, the Blaugrana could not extend Messi’s contract, which led to his exit as a free agent. Paris Saint-Germain were the quickest to act and signed the legendary Argentine for free.

Koeman, who was in charge of Barcelona when Messi left his boyhood club, spoke to then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu to convince the Argentine to continue in Catalonia.

In the “FC Barcelona, to new era” documentary, Koeman was captured telling Bartomeu:

Of course, it did not go the way the Dutchman wanted. A couple of months into the 2021-22 season, Barcelona lost their way in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, leading to Koeman’s dismissal as manager.

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