El Barcelona 22-23 starts today, or at least part of it. A good part of the group has permission to join later due to having had commitments with national teams at the end of last year. There is also a lack of signings and the occasional exit. It cannot be said that the situation has not progressed since Xavi went on vacation, but it is clear that there is still a lot of work to be done.
On Saturday, Joan Laporta announced two contracts and Operation Exit, although slow, is also taking steps forward. However, the reality is that many changes are still needed. If what the sports management and the coach want is done, this squad still has a lot to change.
will wear it
Right now there are three players for that position. Marc-Andr Ter Stegen is the undisputed starter and Iaki Pea has returned from his loan. The idea is that between the two of them they are in charge of covering that position throughout the season and, if necessary, resort to Arnau Tenas, from Bara Atltic. Neto remains, with whom he does not count and who is expected to solve his departure this week.
For the coach, the ideal thing would have been for Neto, like all those who are waiting to leave, to have already resolved his situation. He could not be and is still part of the squad, although the coach would have freed him from the obligation of having to show up today to start the preseason.
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A lighter defense
For now, the defense is the area where there are more movements. Umtiti, Mingueza and Lenget are closing their respective exits. Big Sam points to Renneswho is negotiating with the Only a formula so as not to have to assume the entire center-back record. The youth squad is in talks with the Monza and the former of Sevilla march to Tottenham.
With these departures and the well-known arrival of Christensenthe Barça defense, for the moment, with two players per position: Dest y Wagu on the right band; Araujo, Piqu, Eric Garcia, and Christensen on the y-axis Jordi Alba and Balde on the left.
However, everything indicates that this will not be the final version of the Barça defence. If the club manages to close the signings of Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonsothe normal thing is that Wagu y Bucket come out
Youth in the medullary
In the center of the field, work is being done to close a couple of exits with some urgency. It is the case of Miralem Pjanicwhich should return from loan but is not counted on, and Riqui Puig. Both have a market, although in the case of the Bosnian, his file could be a problem.
It also remains to be seen what happens with Frenkie de Jongwhose exit to the Premier League still cannot be ruled out.
Therefore, Xavi has today Busquets, Kessi, De Jong, Gavi, Pedri, Nico, Sergi Roberto and Lex Collado for their midfield. Except for Busquets and Roberto, it is a fairly young midfielder.
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An attack to define
The line that still has more work ahead of it. Xavi He has asked for a leap in quality in that area of the field. The team suffered last year due to a lack of efficiency and that is solved by signing a great goalscorer. The desired is Lewandowskibut Bayern de Mnich he’s not making it easy.
Trincao not return and Martin Braithwaite he is reluctant to go out, even though he already knows firsthand that he is not counted on. In addition, there is the drop in Ousmane Demblwhich could be transitory.
So, Xavi has Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Aubameyang and Depay. It remains to be resolved, therefore, what happens to the right wing. The most ambitious goal speaks of recovering Dembl and be done with Raphinha to have more than covered that area.
And then there is the battle of the ‘9’. If it were finally possible to hire Lewandowski or to a striker of that profile, one could insist a little more on a possible sale of Depay. As you can see, there is still much to do.
