Barcelona fans enjoy watching this new squad under Xavi. The team is playing good and scoring a lot of goals, but that’s just the beginning. The Spanish tactician wants to reconstruct his team at the end of the season, in order to be able to compete with Real Madrid next season. After inheriting the team from Ronald Koeman, Xavi had a clear idea of how he wanted to play and with whom, but his hands were tied both due to the financial status of his squad and not having any transfer window. As soon as the January transfer window was open, Xavi reacted fast and now, in June, he will turn his focus on defense and change everything. Christensen agreed terms with Barca, Azpilicueta given more time to decideFirst of all, he changed the attack. He didn’t want to rely only on Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong or Martin Braithwaite and purchased Adama Traore, who was about to substitute contract rebel Ousmane Dembele, Aubameyang, and Ferran Torres, who can play in multiple roles in the attack. Midfield is already set up with talented Pedri and Gavi, supported by experienced Busquets so the only thing which needs a total reconstruction is defense. For now, it’s Jordy Alba, Gerrard Pique, Araujo and Dani Alves. Considering the age of Jordy Alba and Dani Alves, it is clear that new blood is needed.📰 Barcelona will try to offload Lenglet, Umtiti and Mingueza this summer.✍️ @mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/Wy2Y0UppjH— Barça Spaces (@BarcaSpaces) March 2, 2022 According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca is preparing around 4 new defenders, which means basically a totally new backline for the upcoming season. Alba’s heir should be Jose Gaya, left-back and captain of Valencia. His contract with Valencia expires in July 2023, but negotiations are not going in the right direction, because the 26-year-old wants to take a step forward in his career. On the other hand, Gaya does not want to leave the club without compensation in order to repay Valencia for everything they provided in her career, so next summer is the only opportunity for the club from Mestalla to earn money by selling its captain.’Pedri is the best footballer in the world, reminds me of Iniesta’We already wrote about the Chelsea pair Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta. The duo has been in contact with Barca’s representatives for a long time, and everything is set now: they both got their contract offers (Christensen four years, Azpilicueta 2+1) and all that’s left is for them to decide. That leaves only right-back, where Alves is only the temporary solution, while Dest is not up to Barca’s standards. Meet Noussair Mazraoui, Moroccan’s right back from Ajax. Yes, you guessed it, he will be the free agent in June and he already told his club he won’t renew. His agent in Mino Raiola, so everything is set for the successful transfer to Nou Camp. 1+2 – @Dembouz 🇫🇷 has become the first @FCBarcelona’s sub player to have been involved at least three goals in a single #LaLiga game (one goal + two assists) in this century. Recognition#BarcelonaAthletic #FCB ❤💙 pic.twitter.com/lXZd9tT6S9— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 27, 2022 Of course, some players will have to leave, and Xavi will start, again from the defense. Samuel Umtiti, Oscar Minqueza, and Clement Lenglet are seen as the players who are replaceable and should accumulate larger transfer funds for other targets. Umtiti did sign a contract extension with Barca just months ago, but it was done only so that Barcelona can trim their wage bill. In reality, his days are numbered and he will be either sold or released. Lenglet himself has pointed out on several occasions that he wants to fight for a place in the starting 11 and that he believes he has the quality to be there, and maybe, just maybe, he will stay and be a reserve player. In the end, Oscar Minqueza’s minutes have been significantly reduced since Xavi’s arrival. His departure was underway in January, he was close to Valencia but that didn’t work out and he also refused Bordeaux’s offer to come on loan until the end of the season. His days are also numbered.
