At the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez against the rocky Getafe de Bordalás, Barcelona, the current league champion, begins the defense of the title. It will do so with a transfer market open until September 1 and with players pending registration.
At the moment, the operation that activated the Barcelona team selling 29.5% of Barça Vision for 120 million euros, which will arrive in stages, has registered Araújo and Gündogan. "We are waiting. We will try to register most of the players before the game to be competitive," said Xavi Hernández at his first press conference. It is expected that in the next few hours Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu and Iñaki Peña can also be registered. The cases of Marcos Alonso and Íñigo Martinez will remain pending resolution.
"The team arrives well and we are excited. We have strengthened ourselves well and we have confidence. We have had a defensive rock. But it is the first and we will try to add the three points and give our best version", explained Xavi who sorted out all the questions related to the transfer market. He was especially hermetic with the possible arrival of Neymar. "I'm not talking about the market. I can't advance anything," said the coach who is not in favor of Neymar wearing the Blaugrana shirt again.
His signing, on the other hand, does generate consensus in part of the sports leadership led by President Joan Laporta. They see in the return of the Brazilian an opportunity to fill the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc. For his part, Neymar, who left in 2017 paying the clause of 222 million euros, has offered himself again. The Brazilian also knows that he will have to terminate his contract with PSG that ends in 2025 and adapt to the economic conditions of the Barcelona entity. In case of incorporating him, the club would offer him a short bond of one year with the option of another one so that he can gain Xavi's trust. "The president knows my priorities and together we will decide what is best for the club," said the coach who also prioritizes the arrival of a right-back and another midfielder.
Xavi was more forceful with the departure of Ousmane Dembélé. "He has been a good boy, he has helped us, we have given him affection and importance. It has been a great disappointment that he has decided to leave. It has been disappointing, but he chose another project. I wish him luck," he said. He also closed ranks around Ansu Fati. "I am happy with Ansu Fati. I don't know if he is forceful enough. He is a player of the present, future and heritage of the club. But there is a market until August 31", he reiterated.
Xavi has Ansu Fati. But also with youngsters like Lamine Yamal or Fermín López who have burst into the Blaugrana preseason with force. "They can make a difference. I think Lamine Yamal is ready. Last year Balde exploded. This year it could be Fermín López, Abde, Lamine Yamal or Ansu Fati", he sentenced.
Of the young 16-year-old footballer who is undergoing renewal with Barcelona, Xavi claimed that "he is a footballer with a goal, one against one and very unbalanced. He is deciding everything well despite being 16 years old. This goes beyond age. He is very mature and that is the most important thing", he claimed.
Pending only the registrations, Xavi tries to focus on his league debut. He is not worried about the grass of the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. "Last year I was too sincere. I trust the League and its regulations. I simply hope that it is in the best conditions," he said.
He also responded to Bordalás. The Getafe coach pointed out that "the famous 'tiki taka' went down in history, it was interesting and decisive, but football has changed and the teams look for speed and quality", he pointed out. "I listened to him. He was very respectful. In part I agree with him. Football has changed. In my stage, nobody pressured you up front. But our DNA does not change. We have a clear way of counteracting and it happens by having the ball. It will help us cost", pointed out Xavi. Reason is not lacking. Barcelona have neither scored nor won in Getafe for three years.
