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After a nightmare 2021 calendar year, Barcelona finally appear to be back on the right track. The illustrious club endured a few of the worst months in their history. Numerous off-field financial scandals culminated in the departure of their talismanic icon Lionel Messi last summer. The Blaugrana's expensive transfers and high wages also took a toll as the La Liga side found itself in €1.35 billion debt, as per Sky Sports.
If the off-field troubles weren't enough, Barcelona suffered a wretched start to the 2021-22 season. At one point, there were doubts about whether the club would even come close to the UEFA Champions League spots. They were also humiliatingly dumped out of this year's UCL group stages for the first time since 2000-01.
Barcelona legend Xavi is overseeing a revival at the club
With the Blaugrana languishing in ninth place in La Liga, the club sacked Ronald Koeman in October last year and brought in Xavi as manager. The legendary Spaniard's appointment has sparked a revival of sorts.
Barcelona are now third in the table with 51 points, level with Atletico Madrid. The latter have also played one more game than Xavi's side. The Blaugrana are also unbeaten in their last 12 La Liga games. They are gaining momentum at just the right time ahead of the business end of the season.
The Spanish giants also enjoyed a fruitful winter transfer window, getting rid of some expensive flops while also completing multiple smart signings. On that note, we look at five major issues the La Liga side must deal with this summer in order to keep moving in the right direction:
#5 Continue building financial stability
The arrival of Joan Laporta as club president has improved the financial situation of the Catalan giants. Nevertheless, the problem of their enormous debt continues to loom large. Barcelona's reported deal with music giants Spotify is a small but positive step and is reportedly worth €280 million, as per Forbes. The deal is expected to be announced ahead of the start of next season.
With nearly a €1 billion in debt left to be cleared, it is imperative that the Catalan club do not get carried away. A problem of this magnitude is never solved easily or quickly.
#4 Further reduce their wage bill
It is important to note that Barcelona's issue of debt is a completely separate issue from the problems they face due to La Liga's salary cap. The latter prevented them from offering a new contract to Messi. The details are complicated, but fortunately you can view an in-depth explanation of it here.
To explain briefly, the Blaugrana are not out of the woods just yet, especially after their busy winter window (more on that later). Getting rid of Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann was a welcome relief, though. However, both players are on loan and will need to be sold or sent on loan again next season.
La Liga's strict salary cap means the Catalan giants will have to tread carefully if they are to add talent to their squad in the summer.
The first step will be to get the wages of the deadwood off their books. Ousmane Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Martin Braithwaite, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Samuel Umtiti are prime candidates to be shipped out early in the summer.
#3 The Ansu Fati injury conundrum
Despite the presence of young stars such as Gavi and Pedri, Ansu Fati remains Barcelona's crown jewel. The 19-year-old, who inherited Messi's legendary No. 10 jersey last summer, has 18 goals and six assists in 53 games for the Blaugrana. He has also been capped four times by the Spanish national team.
Fati's injury history, though, is concerning. The young forward has already missed 77 games in the last two seasons, and is currently out with a hamstring problem. It is the second consecutive hamstring injury that has plagued the Spaniard.
The twin blows came after a brutal meniscus issue sustained in 2020 kept him out for over 300 days. It has forced him to go under the knife four times in six months. Having endured recurring hamstring problems, a serious knee injury, and multiple surgeries at such a young age does not bode well for the player or the club.
There are genuine concerns over Fati's long-term health and he does not seem close to a return right now. According to BarcaBlaugranes, the club have already ruled him out of the El Clasico on March 20 and will be as patient as necessary.
#2 Take a call on the future of their veterans
There is no doubt current captain Sergio Busquets, 32, and centre-back Gerard Pique, 35, are among the greatest players in the club's history. With 32 and 30 trophies with the Blaugrana respectively, the duo have been part of some of the greatest Barcelona teams of all time.
Despite their prior achievements, it is increasingly clear that Busquets and Pique are past their best. Meanwhile, Jordi Alba isn't the marauding force he once was either.
If Barcelona are to close the gap to Real Madrid, they may have to make the difficult decision to move on from the old guard this summer.
#1 Continue their good work in the transfer market
Earlier, there were fears that a combination of La Liga's salary cap and Barcelona's debt would restrict the club's actions in the transfer market. However, Blaugrana acted smartly in the winter window, bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer from Arsenal. Meanwhile, Adama Traore returned to his boyhood club on a loan deal that contains an option to make it permanent for a reported £29million fee.
Ferran Torres' arrival from Manchester City for nearly £50 million was a terrific piece of business, considering he is only 21-years-old. Nonetheless, there is still a significant gap between the quality at Xavi's disposal and Carlo Ancelotti's stacked squad in Madrid.
Barcelona are desperate to challenge for the league title and, more importantly, do well in Europe. In that regard, the latest signings are only but a small step. Major moves will need to be made in the summer, especially with Real Madrid set to be active as well. With Barcelona's current financial troubles, though, that is easier said than done.
