The presidential elections take place at the end of next month and the future of the star player and the coach are in sight
Barcelona’s presidential candidate, Toni Freixa, has given all his support to coach Ronald Koeman, but does not give guarantees about the future of Lionel Messi at the club.
The fight for the job is underway ahead of the vote for the club’s new president, with most basing their campaigns on assuring fans that Messi will remain at Camp Nou.
Messi is free to speak to other clubs outside of Spain as of January 1, and his current contract expires next summer, and both Jordi Farre and Victor Font have said in recent days that they confidently expect the Argentine international to stay. in the club if they do they get the top job
Given Messi’s importance and ties to the club, that’s a sensible position. Freixa has adopted a slightly different tone, saying that he does not want to talk about the player’s future.
“Messi is one more piece of the team and we believe that commenting on questions about what he did, what he does or what he will do, does not do him or the team any good,” said Freixa. Objective .
“Messi is a fundamental piece of the team and I want things to go as well as possible, but I don’t think that constantly talking about that will help anyone.”
Koeman is under increasing pressure with Barça struggling in La Liga, and they were beaten to first place in their Champions League qualifying group after losing to Juventus earlier this week.
Should Freixa be appointed club president on January 24, the Dutchman can rest assured that his position is safe.
“I was the first to say it even when other candidates mentioned other names,” Freixa said in reference to Koeman’s position at the club. “I did it for two reasons. First, because Koeman is an indisputable figure in Barcelona and has shown his feelings for the club by accepting the position at such a difficult time.
“And second, because I think that giving the coach peace of mind and stability is good for the club.
“In earlier periods of our history, [Josep Lluis] Núñez gave continuity to Johan Cruyff after some difficult first years, as did [Joan] Laporta gave it to Frank Rijkaard. I think now is another difficult moment and the club needs stability.
“Koeman can embody that stability. I am glad that the rest of the candidates already agree ”.