I lumped Kessie there with Azpi and Alonso not because of his age but because he has to be the most underwhelming transfer in a long while as nobody seems to be excited about him. Haven't seen this kind of consensus on a transfer for a long time.
Azpi and Alsonso are probably Xavi's requests but Laporta is seemly let Xavi run the show without an ounce of analysis and intervention.
Madrid reportedly is signing Tchoumeni so their midfield revamp is mostly done, if so. Bayern signed Mazraoui (who I have doubts), is getting closer to signing Gravenberch and is also working to sign Nkunku, even though they already have pretty formidable midfield made up of Kimmich, Goreztka and Musiala (and the wonderkid Wanner).
For us, neither Christensen nor Kessie appear to be exciting, and we might not even register them anyways. The other players we linked with are old, stop-gap patches that might not even be cheap at all (Lewandowski for example). And if we sell De Jong and Gavi etc., the prospect looks just so gloomy and dark.
This is not a rebuild, this is just like one of those panicking moves Bartomeu made when Neymar left.
So, basically you are annoyed by assumptions?
Gravenberch isn't exactly building block for the future btw, nice talent but long way to go, same with Mazraoui. They aren't anywhere close to getting Nkunku, heck their fans are laughing at this idea. His agent is non other than Zhavi who went on war with them with both Alaba and Lewa. They want no business with him.
Bayern are signing 30 years old winger Mane, who will cost something very similar to Lewa and inferior player too (and younger tbf) and mediocre/tier 2 talent like Mazraoui & Gravenberch aren't building up for the future.
RM is signing 29 years old Rudiger, who failed at 4 atb system, they are facing a battle to sign Tchoumeni who is very similar player to Camavinga and doesn't solve the problem they face with aging Modric and Kroos, he is likely going to be overpriced and won't negate the fact they will need to invest heavily in the future to replace their old core
Each club in the world can throw names and say future is bright, each big club probably has 6 or so wonderkids in the ranks and few are joining each summer.
We can say we signed Spain's most promising midfielder outside of La Masia (Torre) along an already young core, we have Fati, Pedri Araujo etc.
Also, the club isn't in for proper rebuild either, this is one thing Laporta always been consistent about: He wants to win. This is our direction.
And let's be honest, with current old socios it was the direction any club president was going to do. RM themselves never went for proper rebuild even when they needed too.
If you want to judge Laporta based on "what we wish" the grade will be bad for sure, but honestly and with the true reality of the club (finance, politics, socios etc) it is a C+ at worst IMO. We lost Messi, every top coach turned us down, lost Griezmann etc and still finished 2nd in Liga. Cup performanes were awful tbf.
Also, most Milan fans actually liked Kessie, and most think he will be solid addition to Barca, those are the ones who actually watch him every game.
I would hate it if our transfers ended up just being Kessie, Christensen, Lewa along Azpi & Alonso, sure very underwhelming.
But atm we hear a new rumour every day, one day we are selling FDJ and only getting Alonso and Azpi, another we are buying Kounde and Neves to replace Busquets and Pique
