Ronald Koeman leaving Southampton For Barcelona?
Following last summer’s fire sale from Southampton, many supporters pondered how much worse things could get for the club. After finishing eighth in the Premier League, the Saint’s lost manager Mauricio Pochettino, as well as star players Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers to bigger clubs.
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All seemed lost for Southampton. Many respected pundits predicted instant relegation for the Saints. With the club in need of some major help, Southampton possibly made the hire of the century. Bringing former Feyenoord manager Ronald Koeman in proved to be the best thing that ever happened to the club.
Signing Dutch Eredivisie stars Dušan Tadić and Graziano Pellè has already proved successful. Sitting third in the Premier League table, Southampton are on pace to do something no other club outside the ‘Big Five’ has done since 2010/2011, qualify for the UEFA Champions League (Spurs last to do so). Proving all the doubters wrong, Southampton are heading for their best ever Premier League finish.
However, now that the club seems to have reached its peak, a downside begins to appear. Rumors reported by the Daily Star have current Saint’s manager Ronald Koeman as the favorite to take over at Barcelona if current manager Luis Enrique is sacked. Koeman was quick to distance himself from the possible opening.
"“I am happy to be at Southampton and that is all that matters. I started a contract with Southampton and I look to be respectful to my contract and the people.”"
The Dutchman starred for Barcelona during his playing days, making 192 appearances for the Catalan giants. Another strong signal that Koeman would leave for Barcelona is the buyout clause in his contract. The Daily Star reports that it would only cost Barcelona £2 million to pry him away from the Saints.
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As much as one would want to believe that Koeman wants to honor his current contract, the pull of Barcelona would be too much for anyone to resist. Should he decide to leave at the end of the season, it would be the second time in a year that a Southampton manager has left for a bigger club.
As the side tries to continue in their rich vein of form and qualify for Champions League football, the rumors of Koeman’s departure could prove too much, and may derail what could be a historic season.
The rumors could also turn out to be just that — rumors. Barcelona may not even sack their current boss, but if they do they may just hire a manager with a higher coaching pedigree.
Either way, under the current situation, the club will find it hard to continue. The more the rumors persist, the less the squad will be able to focus on the task at hand.
If Koeman can end these rumors, Southampton will be fine. If he cannot — whether he wants to leave or not — the club will be in trouble for the rest of the campaign.