Recalled: Here is Ronald Koeman words about Barca's ageing squad in 2019

Our user Kasim Muhammad recalls the Dutchman's old interview that was actually a warning sign.

"[Luis] Suarez is over 30 years old, [Lionel] Messi is over 30, [Gerard] Pique is over 30, [Sergio] Busquets is over 30..." Ronald Koeman said in an interview with Esport3 back in 2019.

"They still have a few years left, of course, but afterwards... then what? You have to make changes because they are important positions in the team - the whole core. You'll have a goalkeeper, but you won't have a centre-back, holding midfielder, centre forward or Messi. Good luck with that.

"I'm always a fan of playing with homegrown players because they know how Barcelona play. But sometimes you might not have a player with that talent in a certain position, so you have to look elsewhere.

"I don't know how good the academy is at Barcelona, but you must always look closer to home first and then elsewhere.

"Us Dutch, we're not afraid of playing youngsters, we're used to it. I always say that, when you have a 30-year-old player and a 22-year-old player performing at the same level, I'd play the 22-year-old because they're the future.

"You have to play homegrown players if they're good enough," he concluded.

Ronald Koeman is expected to be announced as Barcelona's new manager in the coming hours.