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It was the end of an era at Camp Nou as Barcelona announced they had parted ways with club legend Lionel Messi. The news sent shockwaves across the globe and put Cules in great sorrow.
The Blaugrana faithful have become accustomed to seeing the Argentine in Barca colors to the extent that it hurts to imagine him wearing another club's jersey.
Messi was a huge force to reckon with during his time in Catalonia. He bagged an unbelievable 672 goals and 305 assists in 778 official appearances for the club during his 21-year stint. There is simply no way Barcelona can replace this legend.
Nevertheless, the Blaugrana have to move on and face the challenges ahead. La Liga returns on August 13. The Catalan giants will play their first league game of the season against Real Sociedad just two days after the restart.
It will be a huge challenge for Ronald Koeman as he won't be able to count on the greatest player of all time anymore. Given the level of resources at his disposal at Camp Nou, the tactician should still be able to deploy a strong lineup for next season, though.
It should be recalled that Barcelona made some major additions to their squad during the summer transfer window. Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero arrived on free transfers from Manchester City. Memphis Depay and Emerson Royale were also lured to Camp Nou.
With all that in mind, we look at how the Catalan giants could possibly line up next season in the absence of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona's probable starting line-up:
Goalkeeper: Marc Andre ter Stegen
Marc Andre ter Stegen's status as Barcelona's first choice between the sticks is unchallenged. The German shot-stopper has been one of the top performers in the Blaugrana's squad ever since he joined the club from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2014.
The guardian didn't have the best of outings last season but he'll be looking to return to his peak level when the new campaign kicks off. With MATS in top form, Ronald Koeman will have a reliable figure to count on.
Defense
Left-back: Jordi Alba
Jordi Alba will definitely keep his spot in the starting lineup next season. The Spaniard is still in good shape to carry on for the next one or two years. His performances for Spain at the European championship this summer showed that he still has some fuel left in his tank.
Alba's marauding runs and link-up play will be needed by Barcelona to break down opposition defenses. The defender contributes a significant number of goals and assists every season, making him a vital asset for the Catalan giants, especially in the post-Messi era.
Center-back: Gerard Pique
The Spanish centre-back will continue to lead the defensive line next season. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad, exhibiting a laudable character when it comes to influencing the performance of the team.
Pique has shown promising signs in recent friendly games that he has played for Barcelona within the past few weeks. It has been claimed that the defender has maintained a great level in training as well, which would be good news to the ears of the fans.
Center-back: Ronald Araujo
One of the few things we can learn from Barcelona's pre-season outing this summer is that Ronald Araujo is ready for a big role in the team. The defender was one of the standout performers in the Joan Gamper trophy clash with Juventus, putting up a rock-solid display as the Catalan giants secured a 3-0 victory.
Araujo broke into Barca's first team last season. Despite being just 22 years old, the Uruguayan played with a lot of confidence and composure, and was without doubt the best centre-back in the team throughout the campaign.
He made 33 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring twice and setting up another.
Right-back: Sergino Dest
Making a choice between Sergino Dest and Emerson Royale will certainly be a difficult task for Ronald Koeman as both players were incredible last season. However, Dest will narrowly get the nod because he was part of the team last season, compared to his counterpart who just arrived this summer.
The USA international had a good debut campaign at Camp Nou, making 44 appearances for the Blaugrana across all competitions and recording three goals and one assist to his name. His numbers will surely increase next season.
Midfield
Central midfielder: Pedri
Although Pedri will not be available for Barcelona's opening league clash with Real Sociedad next weekend after participating in the recently concluded Olympic tournament, the Spaniard will likely keep his place in the starting lineup next season.
The midfielder has been a huge revelation since he made his debut appearance for Barca in the 4-0 victory over Villareal on September 27 last year. He ended up making an unbelievable 52 appearances in the Blaugrana colors during the term, with a record of four goals and six assists to his name.
He was rewarded with the privilege of representing Spain at the European Championship this summer, where he racked up six appearances before turning up for the national team once again at the Olympic tournament in Tokyo.
Central midfielder: Frenkie de Jong
The Dutchman was given an advanced role in midfield last season and he took it with both hands, finishing as the most prolific midfielder in the squad with seven goals and eight assists to his name.
Frenkie de Jong continues firing on all cylinders. He put up some fine performances for the Netherlands at the Euros recently and returned to Camp Nou early to kick-start preparations for the upcoming season. The 24-year-old was included in the lineup for the pre-season clash with Salzburg, spending 83 minutes on the pitch.
Defensive midfielder: Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets is set to take a massive role in the Barcelona squad next season. The midfielder has been announced as the team's new captain following the departure of Lionel Messi this summer and he's already kick-started the new era by lifting the Joan Gamper trophy.
Despite turning 33 last year, Busquets is still going strong for club and country. The Spaniard rolled back the years to produce a series of eye-catching displays while representing Spain at the Euros a few weeks ago. He was influential as La Roja made it into the semifinals of the tournament.
Attack
Left winger: Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay is already winning the hearts of Barcelona fans following his switch to Camp Nou this summer. The attacker put up a couple of sparkling displays for the Catalan giants during their pre-season fixtures.
The Dutchman scored one and set up another as Barca defeated Juventus 3-0 to win the Joan Gamper trophy recently. With a total of three goals and one assist to his name in four matches for the Blaugrana so far, Depay is off to a great start at Camp Nou.
Striker: Sergio Aguero
Following Lionel Messi's departure, Sergio Aguero has debunked rumors claiming he isn't happy at Barcelona, dismissing speculation linking him with an exit this summer and pledging his commitment to the Catalan giants.
That means we'll certainly see the Argentine wearing the Blaugrana's jersey next season. Barca suffered from not having a striker in the squad last term after the departure of Luis Suarez. In Aguero, though, they've found a worthy replacement.
Breaking news: Aguero has been ruled out for 10 weeks by Barcelona due to a tendon injury. He will not be able to start the season for the Catalans.
With Martin Braithwaithe getting injured in training as well and Ousmane Dembele already ruled out, we might see a tweaked Blaugrana front-line with possibly Philippe Coutinho starting alongside Depay and Griezmann.
Right winger: Antoine Griezmann
The departure of Lionel Messi will grant Antoine Griezmann the chance to finally play his favored role at Barcelona. Similar to Leo, the Frenchman will likely be deployed on the right flank, but with the freedom to function as a number 10 by drifting inside and orchestrating attacking moves.
Griezmann proved that he has what it takes to make a difference for the team last season. The Blaugrana's Copa Del Rey triumph was a product of the Frenchman's influence. He bagged three goals and four assists in six games to help Barca clinch the trophy.
