Barcelona are reportedly set to appoint legendary Dutch defender Ronald Koeman as their new manager this week to replace Quique Setien.
Setien, 61, has come under fire after overseeing Friday night’s humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is understood to have told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE on Sunday night: “Setien is out.”
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Koeman has been chosen to replace him at the Nou Camp this summer.
“Ronald Koeman has been choosen as new Barcelona manager,” Romano posted on Twitter.
“He’s going to leave Holland National team to join Barça – official statement on this week. Here we go! #FCB #Barcelona #Koeman.”
Koeman, 57, made 264 appearances for Barca in his own playing career, scoring 88 goals and helping the club win four Spanish titles, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
He has spent the last two-and-a-half years in charge of the Netherlands after being sacked by Everton in October 2017.
The Dutchman has a clause in his Netherlands contract that allows him to leave for Barca, yet back in March he insisted that would not be active until after the European Championship in 2021.
“The clause in my contract to go to Barcelona is for after the European Championship,” Koeman told Marca.
“No date has been mentioned, so now it’s after the European Championship in 2021. But I haven’t thought about it for a second anyway.”
Koeman has spent two decades plying his trade as a manager; enjoying time in charge of Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Southampton and Everton.
His first task at the Nou Camp could be convincing Lionel Messi to stay, however, with reports in Brazil suggesting the Barca legend is seeking an immediate exit this summer.
Spanish outlet Sport claim Barca have denied the story, highlighting the fact that Messi has a release clause worth €700m in his current deal – which expires next year.
