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Barcelona have had a forgettable season. Sixth in La Liga and out of the Champions League, the Catalans are struggling to string together a good run of games. The issues outside the pitch have not improved their prospects either.
Team Barcelona needs a rejig
Team Barcelona have brought club legend Xavi on board to try and change their fortunes.
It is quite evident that Barca are still a work in progress. Expectant fans are hoping that the transfer window will provide a glimmer of hope in these troubling times. For instance, the confirmed signings of Ferran Torres.
Barcelona lost to rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals, but fans will be happy about the fact that they went down fighting. Xavi is yet to find the winning formula for his beloved club but will hope that new faces do the trick. Let's take a look at how Barca might line up if they get their business done in the January transfer window.
Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Marc-Andre ter Stegen signed for Barcelona from Monchengladbach in 2014 and has been a regular starter for Blaugrana. Ter Stegen has been impressive for the majority of his eight-year career at Barca.
He missed the first two games due to injury but has been a consistent feature in the starting XI ever since. The German has been reliable between the sticks and has often pulled off miraculous saves.
Ter Stegen has conceded 20 goals in 18 La Liga games and has kept four clean sheets so far. He was particularly impressive in their 1-0 win against Mallorca on January 3 when he produced an outstanding stoppage-time save. If Barca revamp their defense, Ter Stegen’s job might just become a tad simpler.
Right Back: Sergino Dest
Another Ajax starlet to join Barcelona, Sergino Dest joined Blaugrana at the start of the 2020-21 season for an initial fee of €21 million. Upon signing for the club on a five-year contract, Dest had a €400 million release clause. This goes to show how highly Barca rated the American.
Dest has struggled to settle into the attacking full-back role at Barca. He has looked shaky defensively and hasn’t shown enough hunger when his team is on the attack. The signing of veteran Dani Alves to play in Dest’s position only emphasizes the problem.
The American was rumored to leaving the club, but Dest’s agent dismissed them, claiming he was happy at Barca. Dest is only 21 and the best years of his life are ahead of him. There is no denying that he still needs lots of work on the training ground, but the talented youngster will be one to watch out for in the near future.
Center-back: Niklas Sule
Team Barcelona is reportedly looking at the possibility of signing Niklas Sule from Bayern Munich. Sule has just six months left on his contract with Bayern. A number of clubs are interested in securing his services.
Sule has had a successful career with Bayern and has won numerous accolades including four Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and two German Cups. His potential has attracted the likes of Newcastle, who are looking for an ambitious rebuild, and Chelsea.
However, it seems like Barca are in the strongest position to sign the German. The 6’4 center-back has been rock-solid for Bayern and has wonderful control even under pressure. With Pique beginning to show signs of decline, Sule would fit perfectly in their backline.
Center-back: Andreas Christensen
Andreas Christensen is another defender who is on Barcelona’s radar. Christensen already has tremendous experience in high-pressure situations and will undoubtedly benefit Barca. He has been a key player for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, who has a long summer ahead of him with three of his senior defenders going out of contract.
The Dane spent a significant part of his early career with Chelsea. He was part of their U-18 and U-21 teams and was then loaned out to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Christensen has reportedly caught the attention of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The 25-year-old’s Chelsea contract runs out at the end of the season and there haven’t been any talks over a new deal. Barca’s defense has been unreliable at times, with the center backs either too old to cope or too inexperienced.
Left-back : Jordi Alba
A regular feature of Barcelona’s backline, Jordi Alba is a veteran of the game. Alba began his footballing career with Barca’s U-16 and U-18 teams. He then spent a few years at Valencia before joining Barca’s senior squad in 2012.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has won a plethora of trophies with Blaugrana, including five La Liga titles, five Spanish Cups, and one Champions League. After sustaining a muscle injury at the start of the season, Alba has been a regular starter for Xavi and has made 14 appearances for them this season.
Alba has provided four assists in La Liga and is Barca’s leading assist provider. This only emphasizes their lackluster form this season. Alba has bags of experience that will be beneficial to the younger members of the squad. Alba has two more years left on his contract, and fans will hope that Barca can successfully rebuild by then.
CM: Pedri
One of the best youngsters in the world, Pedri has been a revelation at both club and national levels. The 19-year-old joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2019 for a fee of around €5 million. Pedri has shown maturity beyond his age and will be key in Barcelona’s plans for the future.
Pedri was one of Spain’s standout performers in the Euros. The 19-year-old worked tirelessly and played every single minute for La Furia Roja. He was also part of their squad in the Olympics. Pedri also won the Golden Boy award in 2021, becoming the only Barca star to win the award since Leo Messi.
Pedri has missed the majority of the season due to injury, playing just two games. Xavi will be relying on Pedri’s zest and perseverance in midfield once he recovers. The potential he has shown will certainly be indispensable to Barcelona and their rebuilding plans.
CM: Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in Europe. de Jong won the domestic double and reached the Champions League semi-finals with Ajax in the 2018-19 season. His performances caught Barcelona’s eye and de Jong eventually signed for them in 2019 for a fee of €75 million.
de Jong has been a mainstay in the starting eleven, missing out only due to injury. He has made 22 appearances across all competitions this season. de Jong has been versatile, adapting in both attacking and defensive roles. Not afraid to put in challenges and fight for the ball, de Jong’s tenacity and composure is a perfect combination in midfield.
His ability to carry the ball from the defensive third and drive through the lines of the opposition suits a possession-dominant side like Barca. de Jong has been linked to a few top clubs across Europe, but Xavi will not let him be pried away easily.
CM: Sergio Busquets
While he may be on his last legs, one cannot deny the quality and class of Sergio Busquets. The epitome of a one-club man, Busquets joined Barca’s U-18 team in 2005 and was promoted to the senior squad three years later. He has since been an ever-present gem in their midfield.
Part of Barca’s golden era in the late 2000’s, Busquets perfectly complimented the likes of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi. Amongst other trophies, he has won a whopping eight La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, seven Spanish Cups and eight Spanish Super Cups with Barca.
Always ready to get his hands dirty, Busquets can boss the midfield by both defending and creating chances. Busquets has a contract with the club until 2023, and it is difficult to imagine him playing anywhere else. His experience will be invaluable to the rising stars at Blaugrana.
LW: Adama Traore
Barcelona are also looking to reinforce their attack by bringing in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traore. Traore started his career with the club’s youth team before moving to Aston Villa in 2015. He then played for Middlesbrough and eventually signed for Wolves in 2018.
Traore is blessed with a combination of strength and lightning-quick pace. Once he gets going, stopping Traore is a Herculean task. However, the winger has often been criticized for a lack of end-product. He can certainly dribble and travel with the ball, but his crosses in the box leave a lot to be desired.
He has scored one goal in 19 Premier League appearances for Wolves and has been used as a substitute by Bruno Lage for almost half these games. Because Traore played for Barcelona earlier, he may settle in quickly if he does sign for the club. There are few better than Xavi who can help work on his passing.
RW: Ferran Torres
Ferran Torres, Barcelona’s most recent signing, joined the club in this season’s January transfer window. Barcelona paid Manchester City a fee of around €65 million for the winger. Barcelona, who are having a financial crisis, took around 10 days just to sort out the legalities and announce Torres.
Torres spent 18 months in the Premier League and featured in 28 games. The Spaniard won the Premier League and League Cup with Man City during his short period at the club. He has managed 16 goals and 4 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Ferran Torres made his debut for the Catalans against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final. Despite the hype around his arrival, Torres played for just 45 minutes before Xavi replaced him with Pedri. Although he may have struggled, one expects the youngster will soon adapt to Barca’s playstyle and will be a threat down the wing.
ST: Alvaro Morata
It is reported that Barcelona have set their sights on Juventus’ Alvaro Morata. With the departure of Luis Suarez and sub-par performances from Depay and De Jong, Morata may prove to be beneficial. Morata has had vast experience across different competitions, having played in three leagues across Europe.
However, he has never managed to stay at a club for a considerable amount of time. Morata has been a mixed bag at times - while his movement off the ball has been sublime, he has often failed to find a clinical finish. Morata has seven goals and five assists in 27 appearances for Juve across all competitions.
Barca fans will recognize the fact that Morata spent a few years with bitter rivals Real Madrid. Morata won two La Liga trophies, two Spanish Cups and two Champions League trophies with Madrid.
