Former Juventus defender Medhi Benatia has taken aim at Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman over his treatment of Miralem Pjanic.

Pjanic left Juve last summer for Barca, but struggled to make an impression in his first season in Spain.

Benatia blames Koeman for his former teammate's battles, insisting: "How can a player like him be happy this year? Pjanic is experienced, he has more than 500 games on his shoulders and Koeman preferred 18-year-olds to him. If you have Pjanic, you always play him, but it was not his choice and the coach did not give him much space."

Benatia added: “He loves Juve and Juve loves him. I hope he returns to Juventus."