Dutch Coach Koeman hopeful Barcelona 'great future' persuades Messi to stay after PSG defeat

After they fell out of the UEFA Champions League 2020/21 with a spirited display against French Champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Paris, France, Barcelona Head Coach Ronald Koeman says Lionel Messi can have no doubts over the "great future" the club has.

Barcelona Dutch Manager Ronald Koeman. Photo: @ronaldkoeman

33-year old Messi, who has won the competition on four occasions with Barcelona expressed his frustrations at the Nou Camp last summer and was seriously linked with a move to PSG prior to this last-16 tie.

However, while the 1-1 outcome against PSG saw Barcelona fail to reach the quarter finals of the Champions League for the first time after more than a decade, Koeman says the manner of their exit could help to persuade the Argentine to stay at the club.

From Right: Ronald Koeman and Lionel Messi. Photo: @ronaldkoeman

Koeman said: "Leo (Messi) has seen for quite some time that the team is improving thanks to all the changes we've made.

"Particularly, we have young players of great quality. We've got a great future ahead. Leo can't have any doubts about what the future holds for this team.

"We are departing this Champions League in a very different manner from the way we did last season. In this game, we hit our level and that's the road we have to follow."

Head Coach Ronald Koeman says Barcelona "played a good game" against PSG in France ⬇