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Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave if Barcelona came in for him, a KNVB director said.
Koeman, whose goal won Barca their first-ever European Cup in 1992, has enhanced his reputation as a manager since taking over the Dutch national side.
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He led them to the UEFA Nations League final, following successive major tournaments for which they failed to qualify before he arrived, and his team’s impressive performance has led to strong links he could return to Camp Nou as manager.
“I hope that we can work together for a very long time, because I think it is going very well,” Nico-Jan Hoogma told FOX Sports NL. “But Ronald has long indicated that he wants to be a Barcelona coach someday.
“Let’s see what will happen. Success at Oranje will certainly help him, just like everyone else helps us. But again: I hope the trajectory continues up to and including the World Cup in Qatar.”
Asked whether there was a specific Barcelona clause, Hoogma added: “Agreements have been made about that. They have to pay for that.”
Koeman was named Netherlands boss in February 2018 following the failure to qualify for that summer’s World Cup, and his contract will take him up to Qatar 2022.
Barca boss Ernesto Valverde came under pressure over the summer after giving up a three-goal first leg lead to crash out of the Champions League for a second successive season before suffering defeat to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final.
Koeman was among the names linked as a potential replacement, but Valverde stayed.
Ex-Ajax, Benfica and Valencia boss Koeman played for Barca from 1989 to 1995, where he won four successive La Liga titles as well as the 1992 European Cup.