BRUSSELS – Coach Roberto Martinez of Belgium during the World Cup qualifier match between Belgium and the Czech Republic at the King Baudouin Stadium on September 05, 2021 in Brussels, Netherlands. ANP/HH GERRIT VAN COLOGNE (Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images)
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Ronald Koeman watches as Barcelona struggles to a scoreless draw at Cadiz on Thursday, a result that might have been the last straw. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona has reportedly reached out to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez to take over from Ronald Koeman.
According to Sport, Martinez is the top candidate among president Joan Laporta and Jordi Cruyff if and when the Dutchman is sacked.
The future of Koeman has been in doubt since the poor display against Bayern Munich and it hasn’t gotten any better following back-to-back draws in the league against Granada and Cadiz, respectively.
Martinez downplayed the Barcelona rumors days earlier
The Belgium manager was asked a few days ago about the reports linking him to Barcelona. Martinez downplayed those rumors insisting there was nothing to them.
His tune has changed, however, with the Spanish manager putting Belgium on alert about the real possibility of him replacing Koeman.
While important people at the club are backing Martinez, a larger majority are steering towards former club legend Xavi Hernandez. Laporta was skeptical at first but is now more open to Xavi taking charge.
But a new candidate has emerged with former Celta boss Oscar Garcia Junyent now in the running.
Koeman’s days are numbered at Barcelona. The results, the poor performance and the public shots at Laporta make his situation untenable. He was shown a red card in their draw against Cadiz and will have to serve a two-match ban. It could be he sat on the Barcelona bench for the final time.
Martinez is the first manager the club has made contact with. Should he become the next person to take over, it won’t be until October, after Belgium have participated in the Nations League. Barcelona would then have to pay €1.5 million to Belgium in order to take their manager.
