Report: Barcelona midfielder decides not to continue if Ronald Koeman stays

Miralem Pjanic signed for Barcelona in August 2020, with high hopes of becoming an integral part of Ronald Koeman’s Barça. With the exits of Arthur Mello, Arturo Vidal, and Ivan Rakitic, the Bosnian midfielder was excited to start life as Barça’s new number 8, dreaming to make a huge impact at the biggest club in the world.

However, his transfer couldn’t have gone any worse. Having fallen behind to sixth place in Koeman’s pecking order of midfielders, one really feels for the experienced 30-year-old, who has done it all in world football. His sour first season in Catalonia — which has seen him rack up 1,300 minutes of playing time — will most likely see him finding his way out of the Camp Nou.

According to Mundo Deportivo, that the former Juventus midfielder is looking to find a new club, in the case that Koeman stays on as Barça head coach.

Having been benched by 18-year-olds Pedri and Ilaix Moriba (even falling behind Riqui Puig in the Dutchman’s preferences), Pjanic could not have asked for a worse possible first season, in what was surely a dream move in his mind. Therefore, reports claim that the Bosnian wants to exit the Camp Nou, specifically if Koeman stays on as head coach.

With potential suitors from Italy, amongst other high-profile clubs such as PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern, the former world-class midfielder will likely have a wealth of options at his disposal. He will opt for a high-level club, where he can probably display all the talents he still has; something he has severely struggled to do at the Camp Nou.

Pjanic has a keen eye for through balls and is a great deep-lying playmaker. But his lack of mobility and defensive awareness puts him deep below other midfield profiles such as Pedri, who is far more intelligent in positioning, flowing with the game, and suiting the Barça style.

The 31-year-old midfielder will be hoping to find a club where he can become a starter once again, surely as he must have a few years of top football within him.