FC Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has voiced his regrets over missing out on signing Reds midfielder Gini Wijnaldum this summer, despite the player being a major target for the La Liga giants across the transfer window.
The 29-year old Wijnaldum’s name was linked constantly with a move to Camp Nou following Koeman taking the top job at Barca, with the duo having worked together for a number of years in the Holland national team setup.
However, the ex-Newcastle United man ended up staying put at Anfield and has been a crucial first-team regular for the Premier League champions in the initial leg of the 2020-21 season.
When asked to comment upon failing to land Wijnaldum’s signature this summer, Koeman praised the player’s work ethic in the centre of the park, while admitting that FC Barcelona were in a much greater need of reinforcements in other departments of the squad.
In an interview to AD, Koeman said: “Gini has a great sense of space, he can get to the goal fantastically well from midfield, he could really add something to the team.
“But the financial situation was known to the club.
“His position ultimately had less priority than, for example, the right-back or the striker position.”
Wijnaldum’s current deal with Jurgen Klopp’s side comes to an end next summer, and he remains one of the very few star players of the Merseyside club not to have agreed upon extended terms, leaving his Anfield future looking rather uncertain.
