Luis Suarez is one of the stars who could be moved on by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman. Getty
Luis Suarez is one of the stars who could be moved on by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman. Getty
Luis Suarez is one of the stars who could be moved on by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman. Getty
Luis Suarez is one of the stars who could be moved on by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman. Getty

Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic: 5 Barcelona stars Ronald Koeman could axe


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New Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman faces a series of decisions over his squad as he takes over the reins from predecessor Quique Setien.

With some of the club's biggest names nearing the twilight of their careers, Koeman must decide how much needs overhauling at the Nou Camp, where president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted star man Lionel Messi remains a key part of the plan.

Koeman warned that any players who lack commitment or professionalism will be shown the door as he vowed to lead the team back to glory after last week's 8-2 humiliation in the Champions League by Bayern Munich.

"What we need to do is give a different image to what we gave against Bayern, that's not the Barca we or the fans want to see," Koeman said after signing a two-year deal with Barca.

"You have to be very happy wear the Barca shirt. You have to show that with commitment, professionalism, with everything you have inside. If we do that, the image will be totally different to what it was last week.

"We're going to work very hard to build a strong team but we'll have to make changes because the image of the other day is not what we want. We'll have to work hard to recover our prestige.

"It's a big challenge and it won't be easy because Barca always demands the best of you, which is the way it should be.

"Barca are still the biggest club in the world. Now we have to work hard to make sure Barca gets back to where they should be. There is enough quality in the team to demand the best results and to win trophies."

Koeman did not reveal which players he would seek to move on from the club, although he made it clear he only wanted to work with those who were fully committed.

"I don't want to mention names, we have to look in the club's best interests and make the best squad possible to try and win games," he said.

So there are some big decisions to be made. And here are some of them.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez after scoring against Bayern Munich. AP
Luis Suarez after scoring against Bayern Munich. AP

Uruguay international Suarez remains a potent weapon in the Barca armoury having scored 21 goals last season to take his tally for the club to 198 since his £75million (Dh arrival from Liverpool in July 2014.

However, he will celebrate his 34th birthday in January and the ravages of time will eventually start to take their toll on a man who has toiled tirelessly at the business end since he was a teenager.

Gerard Pique

Spanish defender Gerard Pique. AFP
Spanish defender Gerard Pique. AFP

In a frank assessment of Barca's 8-2 Champions League quarter-final drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich, central defender Pique admitted that heads would have to roll and that his could be one of them.

He has spent the last 12 years at the Nou Camp following his return to his boyhood club from Manchester United, but he too will celebrate his 34th birthday early next year and will know that the end of his distinguished Barca career, which has yielded 20 trophies, is approaching sooner rather than later.

Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets. AP
Sergio Busquets. AP

One-club man Busquets established himself at Barca as a member of a famous midfield triumvirate along with Xavi and Andres Iniesta which was the envy of Europe. However, time eventually caught up with even the great Xavi and Iniesta and 32-year-old Busquets, who has almost 500 appearances to his name, will at some point in the not to distant future inevitably follow in their wake.

Ivan Rakitic

Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona. Getty
Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona. Getty

Compared with Busquets, Croatia international Rakitic is a relative novice at the Nou Camp having arrived from Sevilla just six years ago. He has done well to help offset the loss of Xavi in particular, but life in the midfield engine room becomes increasingly testing and Koeman will need fresh legs eventually as he looks beyond what may remain of the career of a man who turns 33 in March.

Arturo Vidal

Arturo Vidal. EPA
Arturo Vidal. EPA

Vidal finds himself in a similar boat to Busquets and Rakitic, although, as the senior member of the trio, the combative Chile international may have the most to prove to his new boss. He has spent the last two seasons in Catalonia following his move from Bayern Munich, although 45 of the 33-year-old's 96 appearances to date have come from the bench.

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New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
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