In an interview with Dutch newspaper AD, Ronald Koeman questioned why Lionel Messi had to leave Barcelona when the club then reinvested in new forwards for current manager Xavi.
“Every coach needs time and patience from the leadership. Xavi got that, and reinforcements. He has gained three attackers [Ferran Torres, Adama Traoré and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang], I would have liked that too,” Koeman said.
“It was at the insistence of the club management that I agreed to the departure of some players. In order to get the finances in order.
“But when you then see that they attract someone for €55million [Ferran Torres] shortly after they let Messi go, you wonder if there wasn’t more going on.
“Why did Messi have to leave?”
