The busiest transfer market for Barça in recent times ended, with the arrival of seven signings (eight if the rehiring of Dembélé), which have involved an investment of 153 million euros. The highest in Spain, the sixth most important in Europe, surpassed only by five Premier clubs: Chelsea (278.9), Manchester United (238), West Ham (182), Tottenham (169) and Nottingham Forest (161). ). In sales, the Barça club has only entered 48 million: 20 for Coutinho, 12 for Aubameyang, 5 for Jutglà and 3 for Trincao.
To understand the dimension of the work built in record time by John Laportathe president, and Mateu Alemanydirector of football, together with Jordi Cruyff, technical secretary, Barça has needed more financial resources than Paris SG (147), Manchester City (139) and Bayern Munich (137). “The most important game starts now,” Xavi warned in May just after the end of last season, demanding a revolution in the squad. “It is the party of the dispatches”, indicated the technician.
And the club has had to activate four economic levers with the sale of assets, which has allowed it to enter 737 million euros, to deposit a transatlantic in Xavi’s hands, an extremely competitive squad, with 24 players, having what the coach demanded : two players per position. In some there are even more than two.
Rich in resources, with a variety of alternatives, arriving soccer players who offer immediate performance, where the leadership of Lewandowski to pilot the revolution. Bernardo Silva has not arrived, the dream to which Barça aspired in vain, but Laporta and Alemany They can already feel like winners of their match, the summer match. Now he is Xavi’s turn.
THE GOAL
Iñaki Peña for Neto. After his Erasmus in Turkey, where he played for Galatasaray, then led by Domènec Torrent, Iñaki Peña returns to Barcelona. He occupies the substitute position of Ter Stegen, pending the role granted by Xavi. The coach gave Neto the Cup in Linares. But then he didn’t play anymore. And the Brazilian appeared against Betis due to a gastric indisposition of the German, who has returned this summer in excellent form.
Barça has lowered, and notably, the salary expense in the goal because Neto’s salary, who went to Bournemouth for free, was out of the market, well above what he receives Inaki Pena.
DEFENDING
Overabundance and imbalance. It is the line with the most players. Up to 10, although distributed unequally. There are only two right-backs (Bellerín and Sergi Roberto), but in reality only one (the former Arsenal player) is a true specialist in that role.
It was not the coach’s preferred option because his bet was Azpilicueta. But he stayed at Chelsea. He then focused his eyes on the Argentine Foyth, but Villarreal did not let him out. He then thought of the Belgian Meunier, although Dortmund frustrated Xavi’s wish.
He ended up being Bellerín, who comes for free (he has just left Arsenal) and only signs for one year, a symptom of his provisional status. The technician has plenty, yes, centrals.
He has up to five in his locker room. The five righties. There is none left-handed. Y Albathe undisputed starter in the last decade on the left wing, is now facing more competition than ever with the arrival of Mark Alonso and the irruption of the young Bucket.
One right back and three lefties. Xavi could form a totally new defense with the four players who have joined him this summer: Bellerín, Koundé, Christensen and Marcos Alonso. There the true dimension of the revolution that this area has suffered is verified.
MIDFIELD
Kessie by Nico; Pjanic by Riqui Puig. The area that has undergone the fewest changes in this summer of mutation that has shaken the Barça squad is the engine room. Nico (loaned to Valencia in search of his takeoff) and Riqui Puig (gifted to the Los Angeles Galaxy) left and only Franck Kessié, a type of interior that Xavi did not have, and Pjanic, destined to be the alternative to Busquets, have arrived.
Footballers who are not structural in the coach’s plan, but must be valuable to him in the distribution of minutes and the dosage of the squad. Frenkie de Jong He has withstood all kinds of pressure, especially from within Barça, to continue at the Camp Nou willing to show that he must be a pillar of regeneration alongside Pedrithe beacon that illuminates the light of the Barça game, and Gaviwhich is renewed although it has not yet subscribed for the ‘fair play’ lace.
Busquets It’s not just the captain but Xavi’s extension on the pitch. He is the only one of those who wear bracelets who does not admit any discussion. And also in this course, the fifteenth as a Barça player, will be Busquets (contract ends in 2023) and 10 more.
ATTACK
Lewandowski and five more. Everything will revolve around the Polish nine, the symbol of change. At 34 years old, and in need of a change as he was (he had been in the Bundesliga for a decade, divided between Dortmund and Bayern Munich), he appears at the Camp Nou as the new boss of Barça.
His impact goes far beyond goals. And that adds four goals in the first three days. He governs the matches even above his footballing authority, having entered the locker room “with great humility”, as Xavi confessed, thus serving as an “example” for youngsters like Ansu Fati, whose responsibility in the offensive weight has decreased considerably.
It’s Lewandowski and five others. The five capable of playing in different positions. Dembélé and Raphinha are the starting wingers at the start of the season, leaving Ansu and Ferran Torres, the winter bet (55 million plus 11 in variables) now off in the summer, and Memphis as alternatives to complete the attack.
They are all ductile and after the sale of Aubameyang to Chelsea for 12 million there is no replacement pure nine. Although Ansu, Ferran or even Memphis can assume that role on an interim basis if something happens to Lewandowski.
COSTUMES
Manage the end of ‘the sacred cows’. It is now up to Xavi to do what Luis Enrique did with him in the 2014-15 season: successfully manage his last year. With the collection of players that Barça has gathered this summer, the coach has enough resources (just look at, for example, Piqué’s current marginal role, not even a minute on the pitch) to make the definitive transition to a new cycle.
It is a sensitive issue because it affects two of the four captains, who are facing a completely new scenario in their sports career. Now, Piqué and Alba are no longer pillars of the team. Now, Piqué and Xavi, who were Xavi’s teammates, are substitutes with Xavi, who champions the idea of ”meritocracy” to grant a place in the starting eleven.
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Before, I couldn’t because I didn’t have as many resources. Since this summer she looks at the locker room and has solutions. individual solutions. Koundé and Christensen, two new central defenders, have arrived, and he has two other left-handed full-backs such as Marcos Alonso and Balde. And also tactical solutions to build a Barça without the ‘sacred cows’.
But it will force Xavi to find the most appropriate and least traumatic way to manage the end of legendary pieces at the Camp Nou. He knows the coach that he has no margin for error. No alibi. “The pressure is everything for me,” he said before the end of the market. Now, with more reason.