Barcelona showed promise under Hansi Flick, but this summer’s transfer window left fans questioning if enough was done to build on last season’s success.
Hansi Flick took charge of the Catalan giants last summer, and he had an instant impact. The German manager got his ideas across to the players quite quickly, and they started playing an attacking and dominating brand of football.
While they did fall short in the Champions League, they were a force to be reckoned with in Spain. Despite their impressive campaign last season, fans were still hoping for significant additions this summer to help them maintain domestic dominance and push for their first Champions League title in a decade.
Barcelona strengthened their attack with the additions of Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, while Joan Garcia arrived as a long-term successor to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. However, despite a few notable arrivals, the biggest loss was that of Inigo Martínez, who had been a cornerstone of Flick’s defence last season.
Overall, it was a decent transfer window for the Catalan giants, but there were certainly areas where they could have done better. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at three things the team in white could have done differently this summer.
The Luis Diaz-Rashford Decision
Luis Diaz was Barcelona’s priority target to bolster their attack. However, the financial side of things proved way too difficult for the Catalan giant. As a result, they ended up signing Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United with a buy option.
Signing the English international was a much more cost-effective option. While Rashford is a world-class forward in his own right, Diaz could have been a far better tactical fit for Hansi Flick’s plans. The Colombian has consistently performed at a high level for Liverpool in recent years, impressing with his relentless off-the-ball work rate and intelligent link-up play.
These qualities made him just the perfect fit for Flick’s system and Barcelona’s project. Rashford’s ability to feature as a striker as well as on the flank will come in handy, but the English winger hasn’t been in the best of form in recent years.
More importantly, playing as a wide forward in Flick’s system demands both creativity and energy. While Rashford has the pace and eye for goal, he isn’t that great with off-the-ball work.
Deco was eager to bring Diaz to Barcelona, but Liverpool’s high demands made the move financially unfeasible. In the end, Bayern Munich won the race for the Colombian international.
Although the Catalan giants hold a buy option in Rashford’s loan deal, they are unlikely to trigger it unless he delivers an exceptional season. Rashford feels more like a short-term solution, whereas Díaz could have addressed both their short and medium-term needs.
The Inigo Martinez Mistake
While Barcelona’s star-studded attack took most of the limelight last season, their defence was equally impressive. They had a strong base, and that foundation was key to their success.
Just a few weeks into the new campaign, however, there are already plenty of question marks over their backline. Sloppy errors have crept in, and the partnership of Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi does not look entirely reliable.
Although the duo are capable of turning things around, they seem to be missing the leadership and experience of Inigo Martinez. Despite being in the twilight of his career, he was Flick’s go-to man last season.
Martinez was exceptional at the back, and fans had high expectations for the 34-year-old going forward. But he joined Al-Nassr on a free transfer ahead of the new season. The Spanish centre-back wanted to leave, and Barcelona did not stand in his way.
Allowing him to move on was not necessarily the issue; the real problem was letting him go for free without signing a replacement in such a crucial period. Now, with the window closed, Barcelona are still searching for a left-footed centre-back to fill the void.
Given Martinez’s performances last season, they could have made a stronger effort to keep him. Since they were not planning to bring in another central defender this summer, retaining him for one more year would have been the wiser option.
The Case for a Versatile Defender
Barcelona do have an all-bases-covered backline, but they seem to lack depth in that department. Jules Kounde is the only out-and-out right-back option, while they do not have proper cover for Alejandro Balde, even though Gerard Martin has done a decent job in that role.
Meanwhile, with Inigo Martinez gone, signing a top-quality versatile defender could have actually helped their cause. While they do have enough options in central defence, without Martinez, they seem to lack that edge.
The Catalan giants could have gone for someone like Manuel Akanji, who ended up joining Inter Milan on loan, or they could have tried to secure the services of Nathan Ake, who appears surplus to requirements at Manchester City.
Both have vast experience at the highest level, and having won plenty under Guardiola, they could have proved to be valuable additions to Barcelona’s squad. Ake could have been just the perfect fit for them, as they are looking for a new left-footed centre-back following Martinez’s departure.