Despite the ongoing financial crisis at FC Barcelona, the Catalan club has made substantial reinforcements to its first-team fold.
Barca manager Xavi has added significant firepower to his ranks as Los Culés aim to mount a firm challenge on arch rivals Real Madrid, who recently captured a record 35th LaLiga title and a 14th UEFA Champions League crown. At the end of last season Barca trailed Real by 13 points, the largest gap of its kind since 2007/08.
Ousmane Dembélé re-signed at the Camp Nou until 2024 while La Blaugrana have also splashed €100million on Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to further strengthen its attack, which already boasts the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, and Memphis Depay.
Lewandowski scored three goals in the last three encounters against his new club, including two strikes in Bayern Munich’s 8-2 demolition of Barca in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2020. Ahead of his 34th birthday next month Lewandowski joins Xavi’s side on a three-year deal, with the option for an extra year, whilst Raphinha has signed a contract running until 2027.
Next season’s El Clásico will see two of the best strikers in world football go head-to-head as Lewandowski and Karim Benzema look to reignite Europe’s greatest club rivalry, four years after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo last faced off in the Spanish top-flight.
Barca have also added Franck Kessié to a midfield containing club captain Sergio Busquets and the latest generation of La Masia prospects in Pedri, Gavi, and Nico. Kessié switched to the Camp Nou on a free transfer following five years with AC Milan.
Andreas Christensen could struggle to walk into the first XI at Barca, with the Danish centre-back having to compete with Gerard Piqué, Ronald Araújo, and Eric García for a spot in Xavi’s backline. Christensen signed on a free transfer from Chelsea, and Barca are reportedly looking to continue its raid of the Premier League side.
Spain internationals Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso have been linked with moves back to their native land and both players are into the final 12 months of their contracts at Stamford Bridge. Barca are hopeful of luring both full-backs for a combined €30million in transfer fees.
Xavi is also said to be interested in further bolstering his options in midfield with the potential acquisition of Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, however the English champions will look to recoup a fee in the region of €100million for one of their utmost prized possessions.
Defenders Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza, midfielder Riqui Puig, striker Martin Braithwaite and goalkeeper Neto were all omitted from Barca’s squad touring the US, and the quintet of outcasts are being pushed to find new clubs.
Frenkie de Jong remains embroiled in a ceaseless transfer saga as Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag appears desperate to secure the signing of the 25-year-old Dutchman. De Jong was instrumental in Ten Hag’s Ajax team which came agonisingly close to reaching the Champions League final in 2019.
De Jong is one of Barca’s highest earners and a sale for the midfielder would go a long way in alleviating the Catalan club’s financial woes. Barca and Man United have reportedly agreed an up-front fee of €75million for De Jong however the player is reluctant to leave nor take a pay cut at the Camp Nou, at least not until he has claimed his €20million in deferred wages.
(Photo by Alex Caparros / Getty Images)
