Koeman to testify in court case against Barcelona over alleged Koundé commission | OneFootball

Ronald Koeman and Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, known as Monchi, will testify on 10 March in Barcelona in a civil case against the club over an alleged unpaid commission tied to Jules Koundé’s move from Sevilla.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, intermediary Isaac Tutumlu López has sued, saying he helped broker the transfer and is owed 3 million euros, a sum Barcelona has so far refused to pay. He has filed WhatsApp messages as evidence.

In the claim, Koeman, then Barcelona head coach, is said to have called Tutumlu on 8 August 2021 to seek a top-level centre-back and name Koundé. Tutumlu says he started work immediately.

Months later he contacted Ramón Planes, then technical secretary, and outlined a plan involving Monchi. After raising it again with Koeman, the Dutchman indicated the club lacked liquidity, so only a player exchange plus cash was feasible.

Talks continued as Planes was poised to depart, with a planned meeting delayed amid what was described as Koeman’s imminent dismissal. Tutumlu then met Mateu Alemany to discuss Koundé in depth, while Monchi proposed waiting until after the winter window.

From March 2022 discussions resumed with Alemany and Monchi. With Xavi Hernández in charge, Koundé remained a priority as Chelsea pressed Sevilla. On 26 July Barcelona announced Koundé for 50 million euros plus add-ons.

Tutumlu argues his efforts prevented Chelsea sealing an agreement and enabled the defender to join Barcelona. He says he has received no compensation and cites previous work on Luuk de Jong’s move, insisting he played a decisive role.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo