Staff Reporter.
@Barcelona.
Ronald Koeman will remain in charge of Barcelona after “very frank and straight” conversations, says club president Joan Laporta.
Koeman is under contract until the end of next season but his position was under threat according to reports.
But Laporta said Barca have opted for “continuity” over Koeman’s contract.
Earlier on Thursday, it was announced Jordi Cruyff – son of Barca Legend Johan – will join Barca in a “strategic role” around football matters.
The 47-year-old played for Barca between 1994 and 1996 and will leave his post as manager at Chinese Super League club Shenzhen FC to take up the position.
Barca said Cruyff’s arrival on 1 August is part of new organisational structure being created at the Nou Camp by president Laporta.
In May, Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague told the Football Daily Podcast the Barca hierarchy was torn on Koeman’s position and that the club’s players felt he lacked authority.
Koeman, 58, secured the Copa del Rey at the end of his first season but Barca only finished third in La Liga with their lowest points tally since 2008.
Laporta said “very frank and straight conversations” had taken place and added: “We think it’s the best for Barca and we are very happy to be able to announce today that Ronald Koeman is staying.
Elsewhere Inter Milan have appointed Simone Inzaghi as manager to replace Antonio Conte, who left the club last week.
The 45-year-old joins the Italian champions on a two-year contract, ending a 22-year association with Lazio.
Inzaghi, who has won the Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups as a manager, guided Lazio to sixth in Serie A last term.
As a player, he won multiple honours while in Rome, including the Scudetto.
Inzaghi, the younger brother of former Juventus and AC Milan striker Filippo, also led Lazio to the last-16 stage in the Champions League in 2020-21, in what was their return to the main competition after an absence of 13 years.
However, expectations at the San Siro are likely to be markedly different largely because of the work of his predecessor.
Conte presided over two successful campaigns as Inter boss, reaching the Europa League final and finishing runners-up to Juventus in the Italian top flight, before securing their first Scudetto since 2010 this year.
Inzaghi made the switch to management at the end of his playing career in 2010, working in Lazio’s youth set-up before becoming interim boss and then the permanent manager of the club in 2016.