Ex-Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has criticised the club's transfer policy, claiming Camp Nou officials aren't thinking enough about the future by signing older players like Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan in successive summers.
Having scored 33 times in his debut season following a €45m transfer from Bayern Munich, Lewandowski will turn 35 next month and was only ever going to be a short-term boost - although the Pole does have a contract until June 2026 when he will be nearly 38.
Gundogan will similarly be 33 in October, moving from Manchester City on a free transfer.
For Koeman, who saw first-hand the club's focus shift onto developing young talent during his own playing career at Camp Nou from 1989 to 1995 under Johan Cruyff, there is too much short-termism governing the current recruitment strategy. Oriol Romeu, 32 in September, is another target.
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"I like the arrival of Gundogan because he is a great player, but I think that for a club that has to look to the future," Koeman said to reporters at Club de Golf Barcelona.
"I believe that the structure of the club has to be for the next few years. You cannot argue about Gundogan or Lewandowski, but I think it's only for two or three years. You can't sign players like these every season. I think it's better to sign 22-year-olds, not 32 or 34."
"Romeu is a player of this level. He has shown it at Girona. He can occupy this position very well, but we are talking about another player who is already his age," the Netherlands boss added.
"I am in favour of looking for someone who can stay for more years. They are club decisions. Nico [Gonzalez] has already gone to Valencia. He is a young man who can replace a position that Barça needs. You always have to look at what you have at home before signing abroad."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Ronald Koeman criticises Barcelona transfer policy after Ilkay Gundogan signing.
