Koeman cuts short Mbappe and Haaland talk: We have to focus on our business

Ronald Koeman is unwilling to discuss possible moves for Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland amid potential financial investment into Barcelona, depending on the identity of the club’s next president. 

Toni Freixa, who is one of the three remaining candidates in the running for the role ahead of the election on March 7, has revealed he has reached an agreement with an investor that will make significant funds available. 

Speaking to RAC1, Freixa said the €250million injection is lined up to seal the addition of three “superstars” to the squad, of which two will be in attack. 

However, while waiting to see who will take over the presidential role, Koeman’s only concern is on the current players at his disposal, rather than big-money signings for next season and beyond. 

“I don’t know if this is true because until I talk to the new president, I can’t say anything. I don’t know,” Koeman said on Tuesday. 

“We have to wait until we know who the new president is. He will be the one who will have to decide the future of the coach, the team [and] see what possibilities there are.  

“I’ll wait until March 8 [the day after the election].”

Which one of the next three games is the most important?

A. Elche in La Liga
B. Sevilla in La Liga
C. Sevilla in the Copa del Rey pic.twitter.com/T4PFhMEkug

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 23, 2021

Ahead of Barcelona’s LaLiga game with Elche on Wednesday, Koeman was unsurprisingly asked about two obvious names that would meet the criteria laid out by Freixa, who said those lined up to join are “unique players”.

Barca saw up close the talents of Mbappe when he scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 Champions League triumph for Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou, while Haaland has 27 goals already this season in all competitions. 

“This is not the time to talk about the other players,” Koeman replied when asked about the young forward duo. 

“We are playing important games, and this could be the future of the club, or of a new president. We have to focus on our business.  

“These upcoming games are very decisive, and we are concentrating on this, which is the most important thing.”

Barcelona head into the game against Elche looking to bounce back quickly from Sunday’s surprise 1-1 home draw with Cadiz.

They have not lost any of their previous 16 meetings with Elche in LaLiga (W12 D4), keeping a clean sheet in the past nine. Lionel Messi has scored four goals in three matches against them in league action, an average of 1.33 per game.