Ronald Koeman, strongly tipped to be the new Barcelona boss, says he would like the job but that nothing has been finalised yet.
The 57-year-old, who is currently manager of the Netherlands, is set to join the La Liga runners-up this week.
When the former Barca player was asked if he wanted to return, he said: “I’d like to, but it’ll only be confirmed once I’ve signed the deal.
“Until then, I cannot say any more about it – even though I’d like to.”
He played for the Catalan giants between 1989 and 1995, helping the club to four league titles and the European Cup.
Koeman’s contract with the Dutch FA currently runs until the 2022 World Cup.
Barcelona parted company with sporting director Eric Abidal on Tuesday, one day after relieving head coach Quique Setien of his duties.
The dismissals come after the club’s humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last eight on Friday.
Barcelona said: “The club would publicly like to thank Eric Abidal for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and the close and positive nature of his relationship with all aspects of the blaugrana [Barcelona] family.”
Analysis
Guillem Balague, Spanish football expert speaking on Radio 5 Live
Koeman is going to be given a two-year deal. He would have said yes to a one-year deal. He has been trying to get to Barcelona for a long while.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was contacted and there were talks with him even though the chairman realised the fans wouldn’t like him [as a former Espanyol player and manager].
Pochettino is a better option. There is no doubt about that.
But we’re not talking about the real issue. Barca are a club that’s in disarray with a debt that some calculate could be 700m euros and unable to move on because they spend 70% of their income on wages for the first team.
They have no clear idea where to go next, partly because they can’t get rid of these guys and partly because they’ve got no vision.
| Upheaval at Barcelona – timeline | |
|---|---|
| 13 January 2020 | Quique Setien hired as Barcelona boss on a two-and-a-half-year deal as successor to the sacked Ernesto Valverde |
| 19 January 2020 | Wins his first game in charge as Lionel Messi scores the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Granada |
| 6 February 2020 | Knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage by Athletic Bilbao |
| 1 March 2020 | Loses El Clasico to Real Madrid, who move above Barcelona at the top of La Liga |
| 16 July 2020 | Barca relinquish La Liga title and lose their 30-game home unbeaten run as Osasuna win 2-1 at the Nou Camp |
| 14 August 2020 | Barca suffer a record 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich and are knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals |
| 17 August 2020 | Barcelona sack Quique Setien |
| 18 August 2020 | Ronald Koeman declares interest in taking vacant position; Barcelona part company with sporting director Eric Abidal |
