Barcelona coach Koeman: Suarez was always going to play less here | OneFootball

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman insists the decision to push Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid was not his.

Koeman explained to AD that "he was on holiday, which made things complicated. That's why I called him, there was no other way. It's better to transmit a message in an honest and clear way. Suarez still had a contract and he could decide what his future was. But I was clear, that is the only option in these type of cases."

Koeman added "it was clear that things had to change. The club thought so but I thought it too. In terms of playing style but also in the squad. Young talents like Ansu Fati and Pedri are developing well and Luis Suarez was one of the players who, in my opinion, would play less this season."

Leo Messi did not like that decision, as his best friend.

"I understand the disappointment," said Koeman. "But when Luis left us, he came to our training room to say goodbye to the technical staff. I don't think he would do that if he blamed us. We have acted in an open and fair way, I think."