In the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez against the rocky Getafe of José Bordalás, Barcelona, current league champion, begins today the defense of the title. It will do so after registering Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu and Abde last night and those of Marcos Alonso, Iñaki Peña and Íñigo Martínez pending closing before August 31. He will also debut without Ousmane Dembélé, already in Paris. With the transfer market open until September 1. And with the shadow of Neymar flying over Barcelona. "I can't make any progress. The president knows my priorities, and together we will decide”, said Xavi Hernández. Airtight. Who had a hard time smiling. Pending updating the LaLiga website where 16 registered players already appear.
The names of Sergi Roberto, Abde and Oriol Romeu arrived just in time. The day before, the operation that activated the Barcelona team selling 29.5% of Barça Vision to a German fund and a group of Dutch investors for 120 million euros, which will arrive in stages, had allowed Araújo and Gündogan to register. After the announcement of this new lever, the official goodbye of Dembélé arrived, which frees 20 million of salary mass. "It has been a great disappointment that he has decided to leave," Xavi stressed.
Until August 31 there is time. The transfer market will be long. Before Dembélé said goodbye, Xavi prioritized the arrival of a right-back and another midfielder. With the departure of the French winger, it is also considered to reinforce the Barcelona attack. It is here where the name of Neymar appears. The 31-year-old Brazilian is neither part of Luis Enrique's plans nor those of PSG. And he has offered himself again. Part of the sports leadership led by President Joan Laporta approves his incorporation. They see in the return of the Brazilian an opportunity to fill Montjuïc. Neymar also knows that before him he will have to terminate his contract with PSG, which ends in 2025, and adapt to the financial conditions of the club. He also knows that he must earn Xavi's trust, with other preferences in the market. "We are focused on Getafe, which is going to cost us," insisted the coach.
He is not without reason. Three years ago Barça failed to score in Getafe. In order to beat Bordalás' men, Xavi focuses on the strikers who are there. One of them is Ansu Fati. "He is the club's patrimony, present and future", assured Xavi before lowering (again) expectations. "Then the market will say," he recalled. Despite being the current league champion, few players are non-transferable in a Barcelona that is trying to recover financially while seeking to strengthen itself with low-cost signings. Gündogan and Iñigo Martínez have arrived at zero cost and for Oriol Romeu the five million of his clause has been paid.
But there are other elements to get excited about. And here Xavi does smile. They are youngsters like Lamine Yamal or Fermín López, who have shone this preseason. “They are there to make a difference, and the leading role they have will be marked by them. This can be valid for Fermín, Abde, Ansu… anyone”, warned the coach.
With the youngsters and also with Christensen, Araújo and Gündogan, who have already recovered from their respective problems, the Blaugrana team will start the League against the rocky Getafe in a duel of opposite styles. “The famous tiqui-taca went down in history. It was interesting and decisive, but football has changed and the teams are looking for speed and quality”, pointed out Bordalás. “In part I agree with him. Soccer has changed. In my stage nobody pressured you above. But our DNA does not change", replied Xavi, who hopes that the controversial grass of the Coliseum "complies with the LaLiga regulations".
