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It’s not very often than you see a football club winning their domestic league title, making it to the final of their domestic Cup, getting to the semifinal of the Champions League but still classifying their season as a failure, but that is exactly the situation FC Barcelona find themselves in.
The Catalans had started the season with a high optimism of going all the way on the continent, and the way they started the campaign coupled with the form Messi was in made them everyone’s shoo-in favourite for the title. And the fact that they went into their second leg clash with Liverpool holding a 3-0 advantage only made their capitulation all the more bitter.
Preparations have begun in earnest for their assault on next season and steps have been outlined as to how they can regain glory on the continent next season.
The current Barcelona squad is one of the strongest in the world, as multiple world-class players abound in almost all departments, but a lot of them were guilty of not stepping up to the plate on the continent this season.
For Barcelona to triumph, augmentation has to be made in the playing department to make a great team even better. In this piece, we shall be taking a look at three players whose addition to Barcelona would make the club virtually unstoppable next season.
#3 Antoine Griezmann
The World Cup winner has been a long-term target for Barcelona and reportedly turned down a transfer to the Catalans last summer, preferring to sign a contract extension in the capital club as Atleti were then facing a transfer ban and could not replace him if he had departed.
The 28-year-old joined Los Rojiblancos in 2014 from Real Sociedad and since then he has gone on to cement his status as one of the best forwards in the world. And this season, he has maintained his impressive ratio of having scored at least 20 goals in each of his five seasons at the club.
Last week, Griezmann announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of this season, prompting speculation that he could be on his way to Barcelona.
The French international would offer a different dimension to Barcelona’s style, as his direct style is a perfect complement to the club’s buildup play.
He would also offer a credible goal threat, lifting some workload off Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi while he is also an upgrade on the injury-prone Ousmane Dembele as the third component of Barcelona’s attacking trident.
#2 Frenkie de Jong
De Jong is already a Barcelona player having been signed during the course of the season for the sum of £65 million.
The Dutch international had proved himself an integral part of the Ajax team that defied expectation in progressing all the way to the semi-final of the Champions League, knocking heavyweights Real Madrid and Juventus out along the way while also starring as the Amsterdam outfit lifted its first Eredivisie in five years as well as their first Dutch double since 2002.
His introduction would offer a balance to the Barcelona midfield, as the 22-year-old is blessed with the technique and vision that comes naturally to Barcelona midfielders. But then again this should not be too surprising as both Ajax and Barcelona are steeped in the same intricate playing pattern which was introduced by a legend at both clubs – Johan Cruyff.
Frenkie de Jong is seen by any to be the long-term successor to Sergio Busquets, but much like the Spanish legend, he offers much more than just protection of the back four, as his close ball control and eye for a pass makes him a viable attacking threat.
#1 Matthijs de Ligt
For all of Barcelona’s invincibility over the years, if there is one aspect where the Blaugrana have come up short in recent years, it would be in defence as they have failed to produce world beaters in their backline to match the world-class talents in other sectors of their team.
Ever since the retirement of Carles Puyol, the Camp Nou outfit has cried out for a natural leader in defence and this is a mantle which Gerard Pique has tried to carry without much success.
The 31-year-old former Spanish international possesses the requisite technique and composure on the ball to initiate attacks, but it is in his defensive duties where he falls painfully short, as he lacks the dedication and leadership to effectively marshal a defence of a club the size of Barcelona.
More often than not, Gerard Pique is found wanting on the highest stages, with his shocking lapse in concentration against Liverpool being the latest example in a long line of errors which have cost the Blaugrana dearly over the years.
This is where Matthijs de Ligt comes in, as despite still being only a teenager, the 19-year-old has already shown tremendous potential, while also showing immense leadership skills such that he was made the youngest captain in Ajax’s illustrious history.
The 2018 Golden Boy has been thrust onto the highest stages at such a young age but did not look out of place even for a bit despite coming up against some of the best players in history over the course of Ajax’s fairytale run to the semifinal of the Champions League.
Given his high standing and tremendous potential, it should come as no surprise to see that de Ligt is being heavily courted by a host of Europe’s major clubs, but Barcelona would do well to step in front of the queue and snap him up as he could be the missing piece of the puzzle in their quest for a long-awaited Champions League crown.
