Barça's Transfers and Rumors

[Messi983]

We must brake our record in spending this summer and buy World Class, relatively young (24-28), proven players that can make an impact immediately and great young talents for the future. Let's spend big this summer and be out of market for 2 years, building the team and saving money for next potential emergency like this.

Buying expensive Suki and Neymar paid out great, didn't it?

I wish we had great scouts like Atleti so we can fill all our holes with 40 M - but we just don't have scouts like that. Period.

Others will spend like crazy and make superpowerfull teams... we can't compete with team thin like this... we are not oiler's club-they spend 250 M each year. We will spend big now and who knowss wnen again. But without huge spending I can't see us being decent competitor...

1. I think this is the wrong summer to go spending more than what we need. Florentino will probably go crazy again in a year before transfer ban (and especially if they don't win anything), there could be a "revolution" in PSG and City, Chelsea and possibly Man United will all have new managers willing to spend. Market will be way overheated.

2. If you look at Suarez's and especially Neymar's thread not a lot of people seems to be too happy with them lately. And expensive transfers like Ibra and Cesc worked out very well for us too.

3. Don't know if it's only scouting. Some of Atletico's youngsters like Vietto, Correa, Kranevitter are there because Cholo knows them, he even coached all of them in Argentina before if I'm not mistaken.

And to be fair it's still hard to compare Barça to Atletico when it comes to transfer market. We are one of the 5-6 clubs who have to pay more in any transfer just because of our name. Other clubs know we have (or at least we are supposed to have) money when we negotiate. Atletico is not on that level yet. For example: If Sevilla/Villarreal show interest in player X his price is 4M€, when Atletico shows up it raised to 7M€ and when we (or clubs like RM, PSG, City, Chelsea) show their interest price is already up to around 10-12M€. I don't say our negotiations skills couldn't be better (we'll see how Robert will do) but we can't forget that fact. It's just the way things works.

4. Your name is AntiRealMadrid and you want us to operate on the market just like they do almost every summer? Interesting.

Oh, and why do you need to use that big font?

I think a lot of people in regards to our long-term future forget about Halilovic. I see him as honestly our best prospect. He's looked great this season and I think if Denis deserved a callback for his performances, so does Halilovic.

In MF though, I do think we need more creativity. As @a_d_khaled said, Denis has been playing more as a winger than a CM at Villareal and Rafinha is a similar player. It'll be interesting to see how they progress but more than anything, we need someone who can create chances through a pass. Gundogan is the player who would do that the most for me but it seems like Pep is all over him at City. Tielemans, Erikson, Oliver Torres, Coutinho.

1. Halilovic has shown some flashes of brilliance early in the season but Denis's performances have been way better and more consistent all season long, not to say he played in a much better team. I like Alen and still have high hopes for him but he's just not ready for Barça yet. I wouldn't be against giving him a preseason with first team to show Lucho what he can do but I think it's better if he makes that with a team where he'll play next season.

And talking about a sub for Messi and Ney, you know how much playing time he'd get if we bring him back for that role? Not much, I can tell you that.

2. You think that Denis and Rafinha are not fit as a CM in our system and then you mentioned the likes of Coutinho and Erikson, who are even more winger/AMC type of players? I like both of them, especially Cou, but they just don't have a place in our team right now.

As for creativity of our midfielders, I really don't think we lacked as much in that department. It's just that Lucho's system doesn't depend as much on midfielders creating chances. It's more up to MSN to create for themselves.

Still don't get how many of you can rate Denis so low.

I don't get this as well.

 

[khaled_a_d]

3. Don't know if it's only scouting. Some of Atletico's youngsters like Vietto, Correa, Kranevitter are there because Cholo knows them, he even coached all of them in Argentina before if I'm not mistaken.

Only Vietto for less than 6 months ,gave him just his debut and that is it .Vietto didn't even move from Argentina to A.Madrid but moved to Villarreal and they paid his buyout
They also got bargains with Giménez & Carrasco
Atletico has gr8 sporting director ,there is a reason Mourinho want him in Manu and we signed one of his assistance to be our new Sporting director as Robert was working for AM IIRC
They are one of the best in the world in that regard .

4. Your name is AntiRealMadrid and you want us to operate on the market just like they do almost every summer? Interesting.

Oh, and why do you need to use that big font?

 

[Messi983]

Edit :Fagner is even older than Douglas ,almost 27 . non of the players mentioned were that old when signed from Brazil .nevermind he failed in Europe

Then he's still too young for us, you can all relax.

Only Vietto for less than 6 months ,gave him just his debut and that is it .Vietto didn't even move from Argentina to A.Madrid but moved to Villarreal and they paid his buyout
They also got bargains with Giménez & Carrasco
Atletico has gr8 sporting director ,there is a reason Mourinho want him in Manu and we signed one of his assistance to be our new Sporting director as Robert was working for AM IIRC
They are one of the best in the world in that regard .

Yes, I know that. I was just mentioning players that I think Simeone's knowledge of them has almost as much to do with bringing them to the club than Atletico's scouting department. But yes, there is no doubt they did a great job to bring all that young talent over the past 2-3 seasons.

 

[Jamie Cal]

I don't get this as well.

Even if you take away goals and assists, he's clearly had a great season.

Also, agreed on Halil - if we're serious about him, he has to go out again next season. We still have Rafinha and we need to give him another season to see what's what, Halil and him would have to share time and there already isn't a lot of it.

 

[AntiRealMadrid]

1. I think this is the wrong summer to go spending more than what we need. Florentino will probably go crazy again in a year before transfer ban (and especially if they don't win anything), there could be a "revolution" in PSG and City, Chelsea and possibly Man United will all have new managers willing to spend. Market will be way overheated.

You're tottaly right, but that's what happends when you don't buy on time - I personaly tierlesly lobbyed here last summer and during winter transfer window to buy great reinforcements but we layed back and missed opportunities. When you avoid to do necessary things on time-you pay much higher price later. And you can't blame anyone but yourself.

2. If you look at Suarez's and especially Neymar's thread not a lot of people seems to be too happy with them lately.

Yes, lately - but they brought us many trophys, didn't they?

3. Don't know if it's only scouting. Some of Atletico's youngsters like Vietto, Correa, Kranevitter are there because Cholo knows them, he even coached all of them in Argentina before if I'm not mistaken.

And where were our scouts to notice those players in Argentina?

And to be fair it's still hard to compare Barça to Atletico when it comes to transfer market. We are one of the 5-6 clubs who have to pay more in any transfer just because of our name. Other clubs know we have (or at least we are supposed to have) money when we negotiate. Atletico is not on that level yet. For example: If Sevilla/Villarreal show interest in player X his price is 4M€, when Atletico shows up it raised to 7M€ and when we (or clubs like RM, PSG, City, Chelsea) show their interest price is already up to around 10-12M€. I don't say our negotiations skills couldn't be better (we'll see how Robert will do) but we can't forget that fact. It's just the way things works.

Again-you are right. But, I bet my life somebody else would negotiate much better and make our club produce more money then our people in charge... so, it's our fault.

4. Your name is AntiRealMadrid and you want us to operate on the market just like they do almost every summer? Interesting.

Well, if we had enough good prospects in La Masia and if we have bought quality reinforcements on time we wouldn't be in trouble like this - and I wouldn't have the reason to lobby for breaking bank. Desperate times need desperate, emergency measures, don't you think?

Besides-they spend like crazy all the time. I never lobbyed for that, just when it has to be done.

Now we see that myself and others who hailed for big buys last summer and winter were right and that it would've helped us. I don't like being right when the price for it is my favorite club downgrading... I am affraid if we stay cheep like Wenger we'll end up like Arsenal.

 

[SeloBarca]

As for creativity of our midfielders, I really don't think we lacked as much in that department. It's just that Lucho's system doesn't depend as much on midfielders creating chances. It's more up to MSN to create for themselves.

You mean our midfield that lacks creativity, making Messi going further and further down into a CM Xavi role to create becouse noone else can do it and has isolated Neymar and Suarez in several games, like against Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid?
Luchos system isnt that much different, its just that Messi with a little help of Neymar and Iniesta, has to create pretty much everything when it shouldnt be needed.
For me, lacking a creative midfielder is one of our biggest concerns.

 

[El Guaje]

1. I think this is the wrong summer to go spending more than what we need. Florentino will probably go crazy again in a year before transfer ban (and especially if they don't win anything), there could be a "revolution" in PSG and City, Chelsea and possibly Man United will all have new managers willing to spend. Market will be way overheated.

2. If you look at Suarez's and especially Neymar's thread not a lot of people seems to be too happy with them lately. And expensive transfers like Ibra and Cesc worked out very well for us too.

3. Don't know if it's only scouting. Some of Atletico's youngsters like Vietto, Correa, Kranevitter are there because Cholo knows them, he even coached all of them in Argentina before if I'm not mistaken.

And to be fair it's still hard to compare Barça to Atletico when it comes to transfer market. We are one of the 5-6 clubs who have to pay more in any transfer just because of our name. Other clubs know we have (or at least we are supposed to have) money when we negotiate. Atletico is not on that level yet. For example: If Sevilla/Villarreal show interest in player X his price is 4M€, when Atletico shows up it raised to 7M€ and when we (or clubs like RM, PSG, City, Chelsea) show their interest price is already up to around 10-12M€. I don't say our negotiations skills couldn't be better (we'll see how Robert will do) but we can't forget that fact. It's just the way things works.

4. Your name is AntiRealMadrid and you want us to operate on the market just like they do almost every summer? Interesting.

1. Yeah. Let all of them buy the best players available. Barca can be satisfied with the leftovers.

2. They delivered the treble and are on the way to deliver another league title and the CDR. Theyve been scoring goals for fun and were crucial against all reigning champions in Germany, France, England and Italy. Their current form is bad but so what? Their transfer is a huge success. Sometimes money must be spent in order to be the best and to have the best players. Had they been thinking "omg dat is so expensive yo" Neymar wouldnt have been at Barca. Instead they would have a player like Nolito.

 

[Messi983]

I personaly tierlesly lobbyed here last summer and during winter transfer window to buy great reinforcements but we layed back and missed opportunities.

Yes, lately - but they brought us many trophys, didn't they?

And where were our scouts to notice those players in Argentina?

Well, if we had enough good prospects in La Masia and if we have bought quality reinforcements on time we wouldn't be in trouble like this - and I wouldn't have the reason to lobby for breaking bank. Desperate times need desperate, emergency measures, don't you think?

Besides-they spend like crazy all the time. I never lobbyed for that, just when it has to be done.

I am affraid if we stay cheep like Wenger we'll end up like Arsenal.

1. In case you forgot we had tranfer ban last summer. There are not a lot of top players who would be willing to not play for 6 months, especially not in a year before Euro and Copa. And in winter transfer window there are also not a lot of movements of top players. Even if we could sohehow get someone he would most likely be cup tied and ineligible to play in CL.

2. Yes, they did, but you can't live on past success forever. There was a lot of critics on both Suarez and especially Neymar. But anyway, that wasn't even my point.

3. Who said our scouts didn't follow the likes of Vietto and Correa? We just didn't decide to buy them. Was it a mistake? Maybe, but we follow hundreds or thousands of players all over the world and we can't buy them all.

4. What desperate times? We won treble last year and we can win domestic double again this season. Our team is still capable of performing at top level. We don't need a revolution in our squad, we just need to progressively rebuild and rejuvenate over the next few years. In other words, we don't need to throw 250M for 7 or 8 players this summer, we can buy 3 or 4 players per year (and promote some from Barça B) over the next three years.

We have enough good talents in La Masia. Not new Messi's and Xavi's, but some of them will develop good enough to at least be rotational/squad players we also need. (That's a primarily objective for youth academies of every club. You can't count to always get worldclass players out of them and we were lucky to have a golden generation that was/is able to play together for so long.) If someone turns out to be a capable longterm starter (like Pedro was for some years) or maybe a future Balon D'or, even better. But we have to believe in them and give them opportunities.

5. I said this is not the year to do overspending in my opinion and also explained why. We needed to do that in 2014, we don't need now. Feel free to disagree.

6. Wenger is not as cheap anymore. He's thrown out some money for Ozil and Alexis over the last few years, when there was the right opportunity for him to get them. That's what I think we should also be waiting for, but of course it will be harder for us because we need better players. On other hand, I'm not affraid we'll turn into another Arsenal, but we should just stay away from buying their players for like forever.

You mean our midfield that lacks creativity, making Messi going further and further down into a CM Xavi role to create becouse noone else can do it and has isolated Neymar and Suarez in several games, like against Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid?
Luchos system isnt that much different, its just that Messi with a little help of Neymar and Iniesta, has to create pretty much everything when it shouldnt be needed.
For me, lacking a creative midfielder is one of our biggest concerns.

It's not just Messi creating chances. Suarez has created chances for both Messi and Neymar and Ney has also created for both of his partners. Look at the second half of last season when they were all in top form. If I remember correctly more than 100 of 122 goals they scored were created between them. Midfielders have different role in our team now than in Pep's team. It's time for people to finally recognize this.

1. Yeah. Let all of them buy the best players available. Barca can be satisfied with the leftovers.

2. They delivered the treble and are on the way to deliver another league title and the CDR. Theyve been scoring goals for fun and were crucial against all reigning champions in Germany, France, England and Italy. Their current form is bad but so what? Their transfer is a huge success. Sometimes money must be spent in order to be the best and to have the best players. Had they been thinking "omg dat is so expensive yo" Neymar wouldnt have been at Barca. Instead they would have a player like Nolito.

1. What leftovers? I'm all for us to try and get the best possible players at our positions of need, I just don't think it's smart to overspend and buy players we don't need just so other teams won't get them.

2. You obviously missed my point. I'm totaly aware what Suarez and Ney have done for us so far, but that doesn't spare them from critics (that's why I was refering to their threads), especially during our recent bad period of form and results, when most fans tend to overreact more than when we were somehow still getting wins even if we didn't play as good as we can in some games before NT break.

But anyway, I was just trying to say that not every big money transfer turns out to be successfull, that's why I mentioned Ibra and Cesc. Sometimes you can get an equall or better player for 15-20M than for 40M (see Rakitic, Cesc).

 

[Jombi]

1. In case you forgot we had tranfer ban last summer. There are not a lot of top players who would be willing to not play for 6 months, especially not in a year before Euro and Copa. And in winter transfer window there are also not a lot of movements of top players. Even if we could sohehow get someone he would most likely be cup tied and ineligible to play in CL.

2. Yes, they did, but you can't live on past success forever. There was a lot of critics on both Suarez and especially Neymar. But anyway, that wasn't even my point.

3. Who said our scouts didn't follow the likes of Vietto and Correa? We just didn't decide to buy them. Was it a mistake? Maybe, but we follow hundreds or thousands of players all over the world and we can't buy them all.

4. What desperate times? We won treble last year and we can win domestic double again this season. Our team is still capable of performing at top level. We don't need a revolution in our squad, we just need to progressively rebuild and rejuvenate over the next few years. In other words, we don't need to throw 250M for 7 or 8 players this summer, we can buy 3 or 4 players per year (and promote some from Barça B) over the next three years.

We have enough good talents in La Masia. Not new Messi's and Xavi's, but some of them will develop good enough to at least be rotational/squad players we also need. (That's a primarily objective for youth academies of every club. You can't count to always get worldclass players out of them and we were lucky to have a golden generation that was/is able to play together for so long.) If someone turns out to be a capable longterm starter (like Pedro was for some years) or maybe a future Balon D'or, even better. But we have to believe in them and give them opportunities.

5. I said this is not the year to do overspending in my opinion and also explained why. We needed to do that in 2014, we don't need now. Feel free to disagree.

6. Wenger is not as cheap anymore. He's thrown out some money for Ozil and Alexis over the last few years, when there was the right opportunity for him to get them. That's what I think we should also be waiting for, but of course it will be harder for us because we need better players. On other hand, I'm not affraid we'll turn into another Arsenal, but we should just stay away from buying their players for like forever.



It's not just Messi creating chances. Suarez has created chances for both Messi and Neymar and Ney has also created for both of his partners. Look at the second half of last season when they were all in top form. If I remember correctly more than 100 of 122 goals they scored were created between them. Midfielders have different role in our team now than in Pep's team. It's time for people to finally recognize this.



1. What leftovers? I'm all for us to try and get the best possible players at our positions of need, I just don't think it's smart to overspend and buy players we don't need just so other teams won't get them.

2. You obviously missed my point. I'm totaly aware what Suarez and Ney have done for us so far, but that doesn't spare them from critics (that's why I was refering to their threads), especially during our recent bad period of form and results, when most fans tend to overreact more than when we were somehow still getting wins even if we didn't play as good as we can in some games before NT break.

But anyway, I was just trying to say that not every big money transfer turns out to be successfull, that's why I mentioned Ibra and Cesc. Sometimes you can get an equall or better player for 15-20M than for 40M (see Rakitic, Cesc).

Rakitic had a year left on his contract if I remember correctly. That always halves the price. Kroos went for 25m for example.

 

[George_Costanza]

Next season it's a;; about depth:

----------------------------------Bravo/MATS--------------------------------

Alves/Vidal/S.Roberto----Pique/Bartra----Masch (another good defender)----Alba (another LB)

---------------------------------Busquets/(promote Samper)--------------

Rakitic/Denis Suarez/S.Roberto............................................Iniesta/Turan/Rafinha

Messi----------------Suarez (Kevin Gameiro??)----------------------Neymar

we need 1 CB- 1 LB- 1 or 2 MF- 1 or 2 strikers.

Sell: Mathieu, Verms, Adriano, Sandro

 

[Ritchie]

We need quality in depth because we've basically gone all in with a starting XI, so when they lose form/get injured or fatigued we're screwed basically.

What kind of a second XI is this?
Mats, Adriano, Bartra, Vermalen, Mathieu, Roberto, Rafinha, Turan, Vidal, Munir, Sandro

Nothing coming through La Masia so that's basically the squad. Only Mats and Roberto look good enough to start for Barca with another 2 or 3 okay purely for back up and another handful simply not Barca quality.

It's just not good enough at all. We need to sort the full back positions out with a replacement for Alves (Vidal doesn't seem the answer) and competition/cover for Alba. We need a long-term replacement for Mascherano with Mathieu and Vermalen gone either this summer or next.

I think we need to go big on a top class midfielder with Iniesta ageing to refresh the midfield as Turan hasn't done the job. The midfield is going through the motions this season and Messi dropping deeper all the time. Get D.Suarez back to help with depth.

Attack wise we need another high quality forward to rotate with MSN and another who can sit on the bench and play now and again (Munir can do that).

 

[Jombi]

I think we should let Roberto concentrate on the midfield positions, as I am not sure Rafinha, Denis, Arda and Iniesta are up for it, and if we dont buy any midfielder and they fail next season, we have Roberto to slot in. I think Joel Veltman from Ajax could be a very shrewd signing for RB. He has been converted to RB from CB and is fast and strong, and good going forward. Ajax also play similarly to us. His play both in Europe and for the Netherlands has been very good. Just look at his latest game against England as an example.

I have no idea who could possibly manage to perform at an adequate level at both wings and as CF for us. Any forward should be able to play all 3 positions, but that is quite a task.

 

[Zincubus]

For me, lacking a creative midfielder is one of our biggest concerns.

That's where Coutinho fits in .

 

[Guaporta]

Not really. There isn't a need for a creative midfielder, I'd rather have a Xavi-esque midfielder that can control the midfield play. Although Rakitic is one of the best midfielders around, he lacks in the 'controlling' department. Thiago, Verratti, Koke or even Pogba would be a massive improvement on the current midfield. A new LB, CB and a forward are priorities, but if we could find the money to get a new midfielder we should go for Óliver Torres. Cheap, talented and fits in that Xavi mold.

 

[Co0ter]

Not really. There isn't a need for a creative midfielder, I'd rather have a Xavi-esque midfielder that can control the midfield play. Although Rakitic is one of the best midfielders around, he lacks in the 'controlling' department. Thiago, Verratti, Koke or even Pogba would be a massive improvement on the current midfield. A new LB, CB and a forward are priorities, but if we could find the money to get a new midfielder we should go for Óliver Torres. Cheap, talented and fits in that Xavi mold.

Pogba is a pretty well rounded midfielder, can defend well and create with vision. He can also shoot from range. As far as controlling the tempo, he has improved but it's definitely not his forte.

Gundogan can control the tempo very well, but he's not exactly a crazy creative force either. Rakitic created a lot at Sevilla but that is because his role there allowed him to do so. His job at Barca is defend and win the ball back first, give the ball to MSN, then create as the last option. Gundogan would be filled that same role, especially since Messi doesn't defend on the right side and both our fullbacks attack. If we play a defensive fullback on one side, we would be able to let the CM on that side focus on attacking instead of defending the whole game. Should that CM be Iniesta or Turan? Not sure, all I know is that Turan has not figured out the RM (Rakitic's role) for us at all yet- he looks lost. No idea if he'd do much better at LM. Pogba would do very well in Iniesta's current role since Iniesta mostly defends now, which he can do but also be more useful attacking. Gundogan would do alright as well, but he isn't as much of a threat going forward and wouldn't take advantage of the freedom to attack as much as another more attack oriented player. In Luchos system, a tempo type player isn't really a part of plan. A plan B maybe or to protect a lead perhaps. Iniesta isn't the same as he used to be but he has still shown that he can turn it up in the big games and is still willing to work just as hard as anyone else.