Before a ball was kicked on the last day of the La Liga season, even the most ardent of Barcelona fans would have admitted to the fact that this was their worst season in probably the last decade. Even If Luis Enrique was given a parting gift by the folks at Bernabeu, it wouldn’t have papered the cracks.
There is no turning around from the fact that the squad needs reinvestment. The core of the group is the same one which won the two Champions League titles under Pep Guardiola, and between him and his beloved Barcelona only one has moved on.
The new manager has to buy world class players to compete with Real Madrid and their squad depth. Otherwise, they risk being in the shadows of their rivals for a considerable amount of time.
Here are five players they need to buy to compete with Real Madrid next season
#5 Vitolo
Barcelona are rumoured to have already bid for the Spanish international, who has had a very solid season at Sevilla. The winger, might not have the ability of the trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, but is a very capable to be a backup option to them.
He will add depth to the squad, his physicality and his ability to hold up the ball under pressure will give Barcelona another option. Besides that, he is a very capable footballer and will fit right into the Barcelona philosophy.
What’s more, he won’t cost Barcelona a fortune, allowing them to concentrate their funds elsewhere.
#4 Djibril Sidibé
Among the list of things Barcelona need to do in the summer, I imagine, ‘buying a right-back’ will be at the top, marked in a fluorescent green marker. There have been talks of Dani Alves returning to Barcelona, but that seems like an extremely short term option.
There have been a few right backs that have been identified for the largely vacant right-back spot, among which Joao Cancelo and Héctor Bellerín are the most popular ones. But, Monaco right back Sidibe will perhaps be the best long term replacement to Dani Alves.
He is very sound defensively and has the talent to bomb up and won the touchline for ninety minutes. He even has 3 goals and 6 assists to his name this season. At the age of 24, he will be a very good investment.
#3 Dele Alli
First of all, there is a huge gap waiting to be filled at Camp Nou when Andres Iniesta hangs up his famous boots. Barcelona’s football has for a generation been build upon the current Barcelona captains’ industry and invention from midfield.
With the Philippe Coutinho door firmly shut on their faces, the next best alternative seems to Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli. I know, Alli has been linked with a move to Real Madrid rather than Barcelona, but he would bring so much into a Barcelona team.
He is great on the ball, makes brilliant runs into the box, and has a wicked shot on him. Also, he has a nasty side to him as well, so he can mix it up with the best. There is no doubting that Daniel Levy is a nightmare to deal with during transfers and will probably cost the Blaugrana quite a bit of money to get the Englishman, but he has what it takes to success at the best stage of them all.
#2 Leonardo Bonucci
We can all agree on one thing, Barcelona have been shambolic at the back this season. Great, now we can move on.
There is no doubting that the new manager needs defensive reinforcements and shed the dead rubber in the squad. The gossip columns hav talked of a move for Juventus duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. While there is as much chance of the both the players joining Barcelona together as Justin Beiber joining Guns & Roses, Bonucci seems to be the perfect fit for Blaugrana.
Defensively impeccable, and is perhaps the best ball playing centerback in the world. Beside Pique and Umtiti, he can give a foundation to the Barcelona team which has been lacking in recent memory.
#1 Marco Veratti
“Verratti would be the ideal signing for Barcelona in my opinion. I think Verratti is a bit like me. He always goes in search of the ball quite deep on the pitch and then takes it forward and dictates play”, said Xavi earlier during the season.
“Verratti is small just like me and he never loses the ball. His technique is incredible”, he continued.
“He is a player I would love to see at Barcelona” he concluded.
There have been many a player who has been called the next Xavi, but for a team which was known for their midfield to rely on just their forwards is curious and sad to some extent.
Veratti’s signing would change that, and with the Italian and his agent repeatedly leaking quotes to the press about a move away from PSG, €80 million says he would be in the famous colours of the Catalan giants next season.
