Koeman: Why did Messi leave if you can sign for a player for €55m?

Ronald Koeman has spoken for the first time since leaving Barcelona in an interview with Dutch newspaper AD. The former Barça coach explained how he feels after being sacked in October.

"It was at the insistence of the club's hierarchy that I agreed to the departure of certain players to help put the finances in order," Koeman said.

"But then when you see that they sign someone for €55m shortly after letting Messi go, it makes you wonder if something else was happening. Why did Messi have to leave?"

Koeman's replacement was Xavi Hernandez and the Dutch coach complained: "Barcelona didn't give me the same time as Xavi.

"It is still painful for me. I was working with many injured players. Now Pedri is back in shape. Ousmane Dembele's back. Every coach needs time and patience from the board.

 "Laporta told me a thousand times that Xavi would not be his coach because he lacked experience. But I was not Laporta's coach. I had that feeling from the first moment. After he was elected [in March] there was no click. There was a lack of the necessary support from above.

 "I really wanted to succeed at Barcelona, but I realised that Laporta wanted to get rid of me because I was not appointed by him. You won't see me at Camp Nou for a while, I can't do that yet. With this president, I can't pretend that nothing happened."