Koeman heaps praise on Luuk de Jong
Barcelona completed the signing of Luuk de Jong on a loan deal earlier and manager Ronald Koeman has heaped praise on the 31-year-old striker.
The Dutch manager explained that de Jong will add a new dimension to Barcelona’s attack and he could prove to be a lethal acquisition if the Spanish outfit employs a more direct approach.
Koeman claimed that de Jong is more effective than Neymar in the air and he could be a useful option for the Spanish side.
“When there’s a cross, Luuk is more dangerous than Neymar,” Koeman said.
Laporta on Dembele
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has explained that Ousmane Dembele has had talks with the Spanish club regarding his future at Camp Nou and the former Dortmund winger is keen on staying.
Apparently, the player likes the idea of being the number 7 at Barcelona and he is prepared to stay and defend the club’s colours.
Dembele’s time at Barcelona has been plagued with injuries and the Frenchman has struggled to showcase his true potential in the Spanish league.
It will be interesting to see if the former Dortmund winger can get over his injury problems and show his true worth this season.
Laporta has also confirmed that Barcelona are keen for the winger to continue at the Spanish club beyond this summer and the two parties enjoy a very amicable relationship.
It remains to be seen whether the two parties can sort out a renewal now.
“Mateu [Alemany] told me that a meeting with his representative is being organised,” Laporta said. “The relationship with Ousmane is very good, he feels loved and we want him to continue.
“He’s told me that he really wants to return to the pitch and wear the Barcelona shirt. With the help of everyone, we’re going to ensure that this player, who has great quality, gets back playing and playing often, ensure that the bad moments don’t happen again. The club has a plan to make sure that Ousmane can show his talent and his quality.”
