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This summer transfer window has already been an entertaining and interesting time for the Barcelona fans with a number of incoming transfers. Ernesto Valverde seems to have finally got it right with the transfers and it looks that the Catalan club are all set to go all guns blazing this season.
Barcelona already looked threatening with the squad they possessed before this summer and, with some new additions this summer, they only look stronger to compete for all the major trophies this upcoming season.
If things go well for them, they might as well go on to win the treble this season. Here's why.
#5 Real Madrid don’t look that strong
With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, Los Blancos have lost their key player for almost the entire last decade. Ronaldo was highly instrumental in Madrid’s success in the recent past.
With his departure and with Zinedine Zidane no longer in charge of the Spanish giants, the power has very much slipped towards Barcelona’s side without a single match played.
Real Madrid are yet to replace Ronaldo and have to come a long way in the transfer window when compared to Barcelona to be considered strong contenders for the major trophies. Also, it is unknown as to how former Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui will fare with the European champions in his first season as Madrid’s manager.
There is no doubt about the quality present at Madrid right now in spite of Ronaldo’s absence. But, on paper, it doesn’t look that good when compared to what Barcelona have at their disposal.
#4 Barcelona have a strong back-line
If there was one big issue that Ernesto Valverde faced last season, it was in rotating his squad. Valverde didn’t have many options from the bench to help his cause but he has worked on it since.
Having signed Clement Lenglet this season from Sevilla, Barcelona have already made a fantastic defensive signing. The 23-year old Frenchman plays as a centre-back and has done an impressive job at Sevilla.
With him and Thomas Vermaelen on the bench, Valverde has some good options defensively to help with the rotation. Other than that, Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto can exchange places at the right-back position as and when needed.
Jordi Alba has been doing consistently well on the left and can be replaced by Vermaelen and even Lenglet in that case if desperately needed. But it is their central defensive partnership of Gerard Pique and Samuel Umititi which is their biggest strength.
Both players are quite experienced, especially Pique, and Umtiti must be high on confidence after winning the World Cup with France. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, too, has been very impressive between the sticks and his distribution looks good for Barcelona at the back.
It would also be great for the club if Yerry Mina stays and does not leave before the end of the transfer window but the number of non-EU players in the squad might play a part.
#3 Philippe Coutinho's first full season
After his move to Barcelona in the January winter transfer window, many expected Coutinho to shine immediately for the Catalan club but it didn’t happen at the utmost level. It is understandable that Coutinho didn’t get much time to express and gel with the players around him but, come this season, it is a different story.
With Andres Iniesta’s departure, the onus will be on Coutinho to create deep from the midfield and direct Barcelona's attack. Of course, there are some amazing players out there for Barcelona but with Coutinho’s playmaking and goalscoring abilities, they have a different edge to their game.
In spite of signing in January this year right in the second half of the season, Coutinho managed to score 8 goals and register 5 assists last season.
It can only get better from there for the Brazilian and there is no doubt that the former Liverpool midfielder will unleash himself to his best to help Barcelona secure wins more than often - especially after impressive performances at the World Cup.
#2 Lionel Messi will be looking to regain his dominance
With his biggest competitor Cristiano Ronaldo moving away from La Liga, the league is all open to bow down to Lionel Messi’s magic once again. It was not that Messi did not relish the competition between him and Ronaldo, but with the Portuguese’s absence, he has the chance to redefine his brutal and intense domination in the league.
Messi scored 34 goals and registered 12 assists in 32 matches in the league last season. Considering Messi’s standards, it was on the lower side. But knowing that Ronaldo isn’t there anymore to claim the Golden Boot, it will only encourage Messi to do better this season.
To add, Messi now has brilliant players alongside him to support his play. With the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Luis Suarez, Malcom, and Coutinho around him, Messi can not only score more but also supply a lot more assists.
#1 Productive summer transfer window
Valverde is a different manager than what Barcelona have had in the recent past. His style of play is more balanced and not direct attacking like it was under Luis Enrique or the tiki-taka style under Pep Guardiola.
To adapt his philosophy more effectively, he needed a good transfer window this summer and fortunately for him, the club has supported him well to do that. New signing Malcolm looks a great prospect while going forward and, with young players like him and Ousmane Dembele around, Barcelona have some quality players for the near future including the players from their academy.
Malcolm is not a guaranteed starter but, with the way he plays explosively on the pitch, he can turn out to be the super sub for Valverde this season and can be a very good option in the Cup games.
Barcelona’s most recent signing Arturo Vidal is a player everyone knows well. With his high work-rate, aggression and box-to-box abilities, Vidal can be brutally effective for the Spanish giants.
Vidal’s experience will come in handy when combined with the likes of Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic. Also, new midfielder signing Arthur Melo will be a very good option to come from the bench and can be used wisely when rotating the squad is required.
As mentioned earlier, Clement Lenglet will be more than a useful signing as he will only help to stabilise Barcelona’s backline. The amount of game time he will get is unknown at the moment and will depend on the availability of Pique and Umtiti. But nevertheless, he will be a utility player for the Catalan club this season.
With the variety of options Valverde has at his disposal, Barcelona certainly look set to win trophies this season.
