Since he arrived on the Barça bench, Xavi Hernández has had to adjust his expectations to the club’s financial situation. Especially in terms of transfers, where on some occasions he has had to give up players that he considered structural for his project. These are some examples:
Zubimendi
He was a key signing after Busquets left. When the sports management asked him for a name, Xavi was very clear: Zubimendi was a priority. The Real Sociedad midfielder was the player who was most prepared, due to conditions, to take over from Busquets. But, neither Barça was willing to pay the 60 million clause nor did Zubimendi want to leave Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad – Alavés | Zubimendi’s goal
With Zubimendi ruled out, Xavi was also left without kimmich, his second option. Bayern was not willing to let the player leave and Xavi had to look for a ‘low cost’ solution. Oriol Romeu ended up arriving.
Bernard Silva
Another footballer who he considered key to giving a qualitative leap to the project was Bernardo Silva. Xavi saw in the Portuguese a player capable of giving greater control to Barça’s game. The coach lamented for months that Barça needed to mature in possession and make better decisions when the games accelerated too much.
With Bernardo, Xavi was looking not only for a footballer capable of improving possession and play between the linesalso the possibility of incorporating a differential forward.
Despite the Portuguese’s interest in coming, the figures City were aiming for were prohibitive. Barça found in Gündogan, who was ending his contract, an interesting alternativedespite not being exactly the same profile.
Juan Foyth
Xavi was clear that he wanted a right back with a defensive profile. At the time he tried it with Azpilicueta and later insisted on Juan Foyth. The explosion of Balde, a very offensive full-back on the left, made him bet on Kounde in this position. The arrival of Foyth had to free Kounde from this position, to play as a center back, but Cancelo ended up arriving.
The Portuguese, a market opportunity, was more affordable but also a much more offensive side that forced Xavi to change the initial plan.
Haaland
HTwo years ago L’Esportiu revealed the trip of Xavi Hernández and Jordi Cruyff to Munich to meet with Haaland himself. It was the month of March, everyone knew that the Norwegian was leaving Dortmund in June and Laporta himself spoke publicly about the possibility of signing him.
It was just a mirage because figures soon began to circulate that were impossible to assume for a Barça with fair play problems. The club had to face an uncomfortable truth: it could not compete for top players like Haaland and Mbappé. The alternative was Lewandowski, one of the best forwards in the world, but over 30 years old..
2024-02-14 11:46:05
#signings #Xavi #wanted #arrive
