FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has criticised youngster Ilaix Moriba over his contract stand-off with the club.

The Guinea-born Spain youth international broke into the Barca side in the second half of last season, making 14 La Liga appearances in total.

However, with less than 12 months remaining on his current deal talks over a renewal are at an impasse and Koeman was not shy in making his feelings on the subject known.

“I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, more as a person than as the Barca coach,” Koeman told a news conference.

“He’s in a horrible situation, for me. He’s 18, he’s young, he’s had the chance to play in the first team and is the future of the club. But he’s now in a situation where he’s not going to play.

“I know what the club want to offer the player. My advice would be that money isn’t everything — it’s playing games.

“The player and his people think differently and that’s disappointing for me. It’s not the most important thing.”

Moriba has been linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs in recent weeks, and earlier this month club president Joan Laporta insisted the club would not be held to ransom.

“He has a year left and doesn’t want to renew. It’s a situation we don’t accept and we have to act,” Laporta said.

Boost for Countinho

Koeman has said midfielder Philippe Coutinho is in his plans for this season following media reports that the club were looking to offload the Brazilian.

With the Catalans in dire straits financially, local media had suggested that Barca were actively trying to sell Coutinho in order to bring their wage bill down.

While Koeman confirmed that 29-year-old Coutinho will not be fit for this weekend’s trip to Athletic Bilbao, the Dutchman said the player will feature heavily this season.

“He needs another week to train with the group before we can pick him, but he’s in my plans because he’s a fantastic player,” Koeman said.