Miralem Pjanic admits he didn’t return to Serie A because the situation of many clubs is ‘not easy’ and hits out at ‘disrespectful’ Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman.
Pjanic, a former Juventus and Roma star, has joined Besiktas on a dry loan deal from Barcelona, but there were talks he could have returned to Turin during the summer transfer window.
Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina and Inter had also been linked with securing the player’s services after he had had a disappointing first spell at the Nou Camp.
“It’s true. There were a lot of things, but the situation of these clubs was not easy. Not a lot of clubs had a great window, only Paris Saint-Germain, I don’t know how they’ve done it. The English clubs too. It was stressful, I thought about my situation, but until I got a call, I was focused on training. But, it was difficult,” Pjanic said in an interview with Marca.
The 31-year-old had joined Barcelona from Juventus in a swap deal in the summer of 2020. However, when he arrived at the Nou Camp, things didn’t go as planned.
Pjanic made 30 appearances with the La Liga giants during his first season at the club, failing to score a goal or delivering an assist.
“When I was there, I saw all of the players that I had dreamt about playing with. It was always my goal to play for a club like Barcelona, but I didn’t expect such a complicated situation,” he admitted.
“I was happy at Juventus, but Barcelona spent two years trying to sign me but couldn’t. Then came another opportunity and they took it. I was very happy, which was normal as I was going to play for the club I dreamt of playing for as a child.
“I had a lot of expectations because I had always started, done well and progressed wherever I was previously – at Roma or Juventus. I was ready to take this step after nine years in Italy, I wanted a challenge and it was the right moment. But then I found a coach that, I don’t know…
“Right now, today, I don’t know what he wanted exactly. He didn’t try to explain things to me or find a solution. I would go to ask him what he wanted from me, positionally or what I was doing well or badly. I wanted to adapt as quickly as possible to the team and be useful. You need 17 or 18 players from a squad to win titles. He didn’t have problems with my play and didn’t give me answers,” the midfielder continued.
“Time went on and the situation went from bad to worse, without any reason. Like I said, I was being professional, so this is difficult to understand. Many people on the inside didn’t understand it either. Then there was this opportunity to leave and I wanted to listen to that because I need to play. I know what I can bring to a team, but you need confidence and dialogue and things to be said to your face.
“I’d have preferred things to be said to me directly, but it was what it was. It was a very odd way of communicating and it’s the first time I’ve ever experienced this. I’ve had a very good relationship with all of my coaches. I don’t know what happened, I honestly don’t know. He didn’t want responsibility or confrontation because I guess that couldn’t be handled.”
So, has he been disrespected?
“By the coach, yes. Yes,” Pjanic said.
The Bosnia star was a regular starter at Roma and Juventus, but he doesn’t regret joining Barcelona one year ago.
“No, never. Things happen in life, and I’ve always fought through my career. I’m ambitious, competitive, I’ve reached the level of Barcelona and Juventus. I know I can play for those teams, I just wasn’t given a chance.”
🚨🚨 Más de media hora de charla con un @Miralem_Pjanic a corazón abierto. De esas entrevistas que se disfrutan, por el personaje y su sinceridad. Si podéis, verla o leerla entera. En @marca https://t.co/GH4iqx7NFS
— Hugo Cerezo (@hugocerezo) September 3, 2021