Barcelona product Gerard Deulofeu SLAMS Ronald Koeman for failing him at Everton

‘He provided me absolutely NOTHING’: Barcelona academy product Gerard Deulofeu slams club’s new boss Ronald Koeman for failing him at Everton and insists he doesn’t care that his old side are ‘years behind’ where they should be

  • Ex-Everton star Gerard Deulofeu has criticised new Barca boss Ronald Koeman 
  • He said the Dutchman ‘gave him nothing’ during their time together at Everton 
  • Former Barca winger also laid into the club and believes they are ‘years behind’ 

Former Everton star Gerard Deulofeu has given a scathing assessment of new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman – claiming the Dutchman gave him ‘absolutely nothing’ during their time together at Goodison Park.

The winger joined the Toffees permanently from the Catalan outfit in 2015 after enjoying a loan spell in 2013-14, but says he failed to build a good relationship with Koeman after he took charge of the club the following year. 

Koeman replaced Quique Setien at the Nou Camp this week amid a crisis at the Spanish giants, but Deulofeu is not optimistic that the new man in charge will bring success to his old club. 

Gerard Deulofeu (left) says Ronald Koeman (right) gave him 'absolutely nothing' at Everton

Gerard Deulofeu (left) says Ronald Koeman (right) gave him ‘absolutely nothing’ at Everton

Watford star Deulofeu fell out of favour under Koeman and joined AC Milan on loan in 2017

Watford star Deulofeu fell out of favour under Koeman and joined AC Milan on loan in 2017

Koeman, pictured during his time at Everton, lasted just over a season at Goodison Park

Koeman, pictured during his time at Everton, lasted just over a season at Goodison Park

‘I can tell you about Koeman from my personal experience, and I have very little to tell you about Koeman,’ he said on Cataluna Radio, as reported by Marca.

‘He provided me absolutely nothing. I wasn’t happy, I asked to leave and I went to Milan.

‘We’ll see how he does at the Camp Nou.’

Deulofeu played 33 games in his first season at Everton under Roberto Martinez after joining permanently, but featured just 13 times in all competitions after Koeman was appointed in the summer of 2016.

He was sent out of loan to AC Milan in January of 2017 before returning to Barca that summer after they exercised a buy-back clause in his contract.

The winger struggled for game time under the Dutchman and left on loan to AC Milan

The winger struggled for game time under the Dutchman and left on loan to AC Milan

Koeman has been unveiled as the new manager at the Nou Camp and faces a difficult task

Koeman has been unveiled as the new manager at the Nou Camp and faces a difficult task 

The 26-year-old, now at Watford, came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. 

Even though the club are going through a crisis, with fans protesting against the club’s board and a host of stars set to leave, Deulofeu insists he has little sympathy for his boyhood side.

He added that the quality of La Masia has declined in recent years, saying youngsters were not being given ‘patience’ anymore and believes the club are ‘years behind’.  

Deulofeu came through the ranks at the club but believes his boyhood side are 'years behind'

Deulofeu came through the ranks at the club but believes his boyhood side are ‘years behind’

‘The truth is that Barcelona’s [situation] does not bother me,’ he added. ‘In fact, right now, I don’t care.’ 

‘At Barcelona, they have not had patience with La Masia for years. If you give [the youngsters] time, they learn the style of the first team.

‘There are players, many of us have come from there, but not patience. Now there will be changes, but they are years behind.’

Deulofeu played just 23 senior games for Barcelona, who sent him out on a number of loans before his permanent departure to the Toffees.

He is now facing a season in the Championship with Watford after the Hornets were relegated last season.

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