5 players who don't deserve to play at Barcelona anymore

There is no question that FC Barcelona have made huge strides in the past decade or so. They set the benchmark and then elevated it as they won the Champions League four times in a single decade.

The Catalan club established a period of dominance which sadly came to an end with a whimper as their rivals Real Madrid took up the mantle in recent seasons.

One of the main factors contributing to their 'relative' downfall is the lack of squad strength to compete on all fronts. Squad mismanagement and botched transfers have seen some poor players still benefit from Barcelona's bad business in the market, unnecessarily inflating the wage bill.

Here are five players who don't deserve to be at the Camp Nou anymore.

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#5 Javier Mascherano

This could be Javier Mascherano's last season with Barcelona

The Argentine midfielder-turned-defender has had a stellar career at the Camp Nou since his move from Liverpool in 2010, having made over 330 appearances and won 17 trophies.

But at the age of 33, his best years are sadly behind him. His decline was very visible last season when he struggled to make an impact in various formations - especially the 3-3-1-3 where he was the weakest link.

This season has already seen Ernesto Valverde try to ease him out of the starting XI, playing him only when necessary. He has played only 450 minutes in La Liga in the 2017/18 campaign so far.

With Samuel Umtiti stepping up in defence and Paulinho impressing alongside Sergio Busquets, there is no longer room for Mascherano in either of the two positions he is comfortable playing in.

“I am always analysing my situation. I do not rule out anything, I do not want to be a prisoner of my words, I will seek my happiness.” - Mascherano

At least the player himself understands the situation and has been linked with a move away from the Camp Nou with former club Liverpool and Juventus reportedly interested in his services.

#4 Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen is yet to play for Barcelona this season

After a failed loan spell at AS Roma last season where Thomas Vermaelen barely played, he now finds himself in a position where he is not playing at all at Barcelona. The Belgian centre-back is yet to play a single minute of football this season and is yet to be called up to the squad by Ernesto Valverde.

"The club told me that I couldn't leave. I had to stay in spite of the interest of several clubs, now I cannot even play with the second team, it is a difficult situation." - Vermaelen

It truly is a sad tale of of a once-promising footballer who was a force to reckon with at Ajax and in the Premier League with Arsenal before Achilles tendon injuries derailed his career. Vermaelen will be 32 this month but he still has a contract with Barcelona until 2019.

It is obvious that Valverde does not trust him to play in defence anymore after barely playing 40 games in the past three seasons combined.

Sadly, there is nothing more for Vermaelen at Barcelona and it would be ideal if the club cut their losses and replace him in the January transfer window.

Judgement Day will well and truly arrive for the man once dubbed The Verminator.

#3 Arda Turan

Ernesto Valverde is yet to play Arda Turan this season

Arda Turan's biggest mistake was leaving Atletico Madrid to join Barcelona. A ban that prevented the Catalan club from registering players saw him twiddle his thumbs on the sidelines for six months and he never really returned to the same form that saw him help his former side win a La Liga title against overwhelming odds.

The 2016/17 season saw the Turkish midfielder play less than half the league games and he is yet to play a single minute under Ernesto Valverde this season. So far he has only played for the Turkish national team this season.

The 30-year-old turned down the opportunity to leave the Camp Nou this summer and has stayed on. With a contract until 2020, Turan seems in no hurry to play regular football despite barely making the starting lineup even under Luis Enrique last season.

The only time Valverde included him in the matchday squad was when they played Real Betis. He never played a part but warmed the bench for 90 minutes.

Cules will only hope he moves on in the January transfer window so they can bring in another midfielder who will actually play a part and provide squad depth.

#2 Andre Gomes

Andre Gomes has not exactly impressed at Barcelona following his arrival last season

Yet another midfielder who has still not impressed in a Barcelona shirt is Andre Gomes. The 24-year-old cost the Catalan club €35m and is now in his second season at the Camp Nou.

And yet, he still hasn't shown the qualities to truly be considered a Barcelona player. Although he is strong and has a physical presence in the middle of the park, he doesn't have the pace or urgency to necessarily be a potent threat with the ball.

Barcelona's game under Valverde is built upon quick transitions and possession football but Gomes' passing range is very predictable and the team suffers as a result, often losing the initiative when he is on the ball.

He had an entire season to acclimatise to Barcelona, playing 47 times in all competitions. Playing in various positions proves the manager is still not quite sure what his ideal position is. He is also a weak finisher and poor off the ball - especially when trying to win it back.

After more than a season, it seems like that money could have been spent elsewhere.

#1 Lionel Messi

Time for Lionel Messi to move on from Barcelona?

Before you light up your torches and pick up your pitchforks, hear me out!

The previous four players I named were on the list because they do not deserve to put on a Barcelona shirt. In Messi's case, it is the other way round - the shirt doesn't deserve his name on the back anymore.

16 years at the club is a long time. And he's won everything in that time - winning a total of 29 trophies and countless individual honours. Yet, it does seem like his time at the Camp Nou is nearing an end.

The 30-year-old is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract and has been stalling for quite some time. In January he will be free to negotiate a deal with another club and sign a pre-contract. In the summer of 2018 he could leave for free.

The club has been in disarray for quite some time and with former presidents going to jail, directors resigning over the Catalonia crisis, and the future of the club being forced to move to PSG in a record-breaking €222m deal. Messi had no idea Neymar was leaving the club until the very last day of their pre-season tour.

Barcelona have a great team but they do not have a great squad to challenge for serious trophies anymore. Of course, they are top of the league because it has all been down to Messi dragging them over the line time and again (12 goals in La Liga so far - the next best player has only three).

Just like he did in the lean years after Pep Guardiola's exit.

Barcelona is now a club that has been unable to provide the Argentine forward with the tools required to win trophies on a consistent basis. They cannot keep rebuilding the team around Messi after he has done so much for the club on and off the pitch. And when they do try, they have failed with some very strange transfers.

Messi knows it too - which is why he has delayed on renewing his contract. He no longer sees Barcelona as the club it used to be; thanks to the new administration that has been hugely unpopular among not only the fans but the players as well.

The only thing that will see Messi stay is if the likes of club president Josep Bartomeu are replaced. But even then it will take a season or two to repair the damage caused by the current board that made a number of questionable transfers.

No great player should be held hostage by his own club's inefficiency. Which is why Barcelona will be sweating over Messi's final decision as, this time, he holds all the cards.