A familiar chant could be heard in the 10th minute of every home Barcelona match last season. The sound of Lionel Messi’s name grew louder and louder as speculation swirled over a potential return to the Catalan club for the legendary Argentine.
Ultimately, though, Barca’s fans were left disappointed as Messi decided to join Inter Miami instead.
In his own words, Messi explained how the trauma of his painful exit from Barcelona two years ago played a part in this summer’s decision. “I was very excited to be able to return, but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again,” he said, highlighting Barca’s inability to offer him financial assurances they could afford him.
Barcelona’s summer transfer plan revolved around the idea Messi would return to the club after a two-year sojourn at Paris Saint-Germain. Now that the 35-year-old is going somewhere else, though, the La Liga winners need a contingency plan to ensure they don’t waste a crucial summer transfer window in their recovery.
Ilkay Gundogan appears to be target number one. Barcelona have been in discussions with the German midfielder over a move to Catalonia for months. There was a growing sense Gundogan would instead choose to sign an extension with Manchester City. For the time being, though, Barca are waiting for an answer from the 32-year-old.
Wait too long and Barcelona could find themselves chasing their tail. While Xavi Hernandez’s team made significant strides forward last season, winning the Spanish title for the first time in three years, they remain a flawed outfit. Additions are needed to turn Barca into a force at the top of the European game again.
Most notably, Barcelona need strengthening in the full back areas. Xavi never truly settled on a player at left back last season while Jules Kounde, who played the majority of the campaign as a right back, is a central defender by trade. Marcos Alonso is a liability as a fullback in an orthodox back four, while Xavi doesn’t trust Sergino Dest.
Despite this, there isn’t much speculation that Barcelona will move for a new fullback this summer, even with Jordi Alba expected to join Messi in signing for Inter Miami. Joao Cancelo has been linked with the Catalans, but nothing solid is behind the idea he could be a Barca player in time for the start of next season.
Inigo Martinez is expected to join Barcelona once his Athletic Club contract expires at the end of the season. The 32-year-old will be a good addition to Xavi’s squad and will be an upgrade on Eric Garcia who has failed to develop in the way Barcelona would have hoped when they signed him from Manchester City.
Sergio Busquets is another Barcelona legend predicted to be on his way to Inter Miami this summer. The 34-year-old has been a key figure for the Catalans for the last decade-and-a-half and Xavi has spoken about the desperate need to find a long-term successor for him at the base of the midfield unit.
Martin Zubimendi has been mentioned as a potential target, but Barcelona have yet to make an offer for the Real Sociedad midfielder. Federico Redondo – son of Fernando Redondo – is believed to be on Barca’s radar, but it’s a similar story there too – the club has still to firm up any interest with an offer.
Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque is reportedly close to securing a transfer to Barcelona. The deal could be worth as much as €45m and would give Xavi the attacking Plan B his team clearly needed at times last season. Roque is highly rated in Brazil and could continue his development in Spain.
Last summer, Barcelona spent close to €200m on new players. Some of those players bedded in quickly and others found themselves down the pecking order – see Franck Kessie who is reportedly already on his way back to Italy with Inter. This summer, the approach appears to be very different.
It was only two weeks ago that Joan Laporta was able to get Barcelona’s financial records rubber-stamped by La Liga, who continue to call on the Catalans to cut their costs. This could affect who arrives at the club this summer. Barca must prove they had more in mind than just luring Messi back from Paris.
