Barcelona: 'Setién is out' Bartomeu tells Catalan radio
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu addressed the future of embattled head coach Quique Setién on Catalan radio on Sunday night.
Josep Maria Bartomeu said Quique Setién "is out" as the Barcelona president confirmed the sacking of the under-fire head coach. Barça have been expected to sack Setién following Friday's humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.
LaLiga giants Barça conceded eight goals in a game for the first time since 1946, with Setién – who replaced Ernesto Valverde in January – accepting his future was out of his hands at Camp Nou.
Bartomeu confirms Setién will be sacked
With Barça reportedly poised to officially announce the 61-year-old's departure on Monday, Bartomeu told COPE's Tiempo de Juego on Sunday: "Setién is out".
It comes as former defender Ronald Koeman emerges as the frontrunner to become the next Barça coach.
Netherlands boss Koeman had been linked to Barça after Valverde was sacked, before the beleaguered Spanish powerhouse eventually turned to Setién.
Koeman previously revealed his Netherlands contract contains a clause that allows him to depart for Camp Nou following Euro 2020, though the European Championship has been pushed back 12 months due to coronavirus.
In June, Koeman – who won four LaLiga titles and the European Cup during his time at Camp Nou – told Catalunya Radio: "Everyone knows it's my dream to coach Barça".
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has also emerged as a possible option, along with club great Xavi and ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Barça have endured a forgettable 2019-20 season, dethroned by bitter rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga after the campaign was postponed in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The club also lost in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and Supercopa de España semi-finals as Barça ended the season trophy-less.
Messi unsure about Camp Nou future
Barça's on- and off-field woes have also prompted renewed speculation over Lionel Messi's future, with the superstar captain reportedly ready to quit the team amid ongoing links to Serie A side Inter and Premier League giants Manchester City.