FC Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has insisted that Lionel Messi is happy at the club after the Argentina captain played an integral role in the 3-0 at Real Valladolid in the Liga Santander on Tuesday.
It was yet another record-breaking performance by the six-time Ballon d’Or winner who scored the third goal in emphatic win at the Estadio Jóse Zorrilla.
The goal represented the superstar captain’s 644th strike for Barca as he surpassed Pele for the all-time record amount of goals for a single club.
Clement Lenglet and Martin Braithwaite were the other goalscoring contributors for Barça.
Messi has now overtaken overtaken the record set by Pele during 18 years at Brazilian club Santos.
Although Messi expressed his desire to leave LaLiga giants Barca after 19 years during the off-season, Koeman believes his talisman is now happy.
“I’ve said it a lot,” Barca head coach Koeman said. “I see Leo happy here.
“He’s very important for us with his creativity.”You can see that when there are good players alongside him.”
Koeman switched to a three-man back line for the trip to Valladolid after Barca’s defence were left exposed in the 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday.
Barca kept the hosts subdued until goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a double save in the 71st minute when the Catalans were holding a comfortable three-goal lead.
“We changed to improve the defence and the wings,” Dutchman Koeman added.”We’ve seen a very serious performance with good concentration and good chances created.”
