'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Midfielders: Rakatic, Busquets; Dembele, Messi, Coutinho
This observation is based on the fact that Valverde, during his time with Athletic Bilbao, liked to play with 4-2-3-1. A double pivot is what he has played with during his time with Barcelona as well and will continue to do that. He will have to shackle Rakatic again so as to bring out the best out of his structure. Busquets will be the destroyer and will break the oppositions plays and start his own from the deep.
Arthur was signed for 27 million Euros and is seen as the successor to the departed Andres Iniesta. The Brazilian will surely see a lot of game time this season as the Andre Gomes is being linked to a move away after a horrific season with the Blaugrana, and Phillipe Coutinho will be moved to the flank to bring the best out of him.
Arthur will be used as a substitute more often as Busquets and Rakatic will start the games ahead of him. Even the signing of Frankie De Jong from Ajax should not change this scenario as he is a raw talent and will need some time to cope with life in Catalonia.
We are all aware of Messi's style of play. He drops deep, deeper than the Mariana Trench (Sorry!), to get the ball and dictate play. He goes as far as the halfway line to get the ball when his team is unable to bring the ball out and then lays a beautiful through ball for any of his teammates to capitalize on. To bring the best out of Leo Messi, Valverde will have to play him as a false no.9 or a no. 10. As Luis Suarez is the no. 9, Valverde will twitch a little with his formation and start Leo Messi along with Suarez as a striker on paper then let him drop deeper to play as a no.10. Phillipe Coutinho will play as a wide winger and cut in to score his trademark goals. His goal for Brazil against the Swiss was a great example of that and so was his first goal for Barcelona. While Coutinho will take control of the left flank, the right flank will belong to Ousmane Dembele. The 21-year-old Frenchman hasn't had the best of starts to life in Barcelona after being injured for most of the first season, after a move form Borussia Dortmund for 105 million Euros, but will look forward to playing more games on the right flank and make moves to create chances and score goals.
While Dembele was signed last year for 105 million Euros, Barca have signed another 21- year old, Malcom, from Bordeaux, for 45 million Euros this season. The Catalans made a bid at the 11th hour and snatched the Brazilian from the hands of AS Roma who are now considering to take legal action against them. It would be interesting to see who Valverde plays more often, his recent signing, for whom they have risked being dragged to the court, or the 100 million wonder-kid that was seen as the next best thing after Mbappe.
