Ronald Koeman has questioned the motives and truthfulness of Barcelona allowing Lionel Messi to leave the club last summer.
Messi has struggled to find his best form at Paris Saint-Germain since his high-profile summer transfer from the Catalan giants back in August.
The Blaugrana argued that they were unable to renew Messi’s contract at the Camp Nou due to wage regulations imposed by La Liga.
Barca cited ‘economic obstacles’ put in place by La Liga as the reason for the Argentine superstar’s exit before a series of first-team squad players committed to wage cuts.
That was combined with free agents Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay being registered following their arrivals in the same summer transfer window.
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The club’s economic vice-president Eduard Romeu later confirmed that the league’s CVC investment proposal would have allowed them to tie down Messi to a new contract, but Barca opted against it.
La Liga president Javier Tebas had always maintained that Barca had the economic capacity to renew Messi’s contract, something which the club continually contested.
However, Barca went on to sanction a heavy period of investment in the January transfer window with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dani Alves, Adama Traore and Ferran Torres all joining the ranks.
That has now led to Koeman suggesting that Barca were able to register a new deal for Messi after all, questioning if the club had an ulterior motive for the decision.
Koeman told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad : "It was at the insistence of the club’s management that I agreed to the departure of some players to put the finances in order.
"But then when you see that they go and sign a player for €55million (Torres) shortly after letting Lionel Messi go…
"Then you wonder if there wasn't something else going on.
"Why did Messi have to leave?"
Koeman was sacked at the end of October – following humbling league defeats against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano respectively, continuing a slow start to the season.
Former Barca captain Xavi was appointed as his successor in November and has since stabilised results, with the club now back in the top four in La Liga and through to the Round of 16 in the Europa League.
Koeman’s latest quotes are the first time he has spoken publicly since his exit from the Camp Nou and he has broken his silence over the events that led to Messi’s exit.
