Barcelona president Laporta to attend Ronald Koeman’s wife’s funeral in the Netherlands

Barcelona president Joan Laporta and vice-president Rafa Yuste will travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday to support club legend Ronald Koeman at the funeral of his wife, Bartina, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The funeral service will take place in the Dutch city of Laren. Laporta and Yuste are expected to accompany Koeman, his children and grandchildren during the ceremony.

Several former team-mates of Koeman are also expected to attend, including Pep Guardiola, Jose Mari Bakero and Txiki Begiristain. A number of Netherlands internationals who played alongside Koeman for their national team are due to be present as well.

Koeman’s former colleagues from Dutch Eredivisie clubs PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Feyenoord and Groningen are also expected to attend the funeral.

Bartina died on 15 September at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Koeman announced her death himself on social media.

“With great sadness, but also with pride and love, we say goodbye to my beloved wife, our dear mother and grandmother,” he wrote.