For almost two years, Barcelona’s financial issues have been highlighted by their incapacity to make big money transfers, having to invent creative methods to register new signings in La Liga. You can live-bet on the Spanish La Liga by using our sportsbook.
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No Messi/New Beginnings
Last summer, Barcelona announced that superstar and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi would leave the club after 18 years. The Catalan giants were forced to lose him because of the financial regulations imposed by La Liga. One of the few clubs in world football who could afford his wages, Paris Saint-Germain signed the Argentine superstar, forming the best attacking trio in the world (on paper) together with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
In November 2021, Barcelona named former midfielder and legend Xavi Hernandez as the coach on a contract until 2024, following the sacking of Ronald Koeman. Xavi played for Barcelona for 17 years, making 767 appearances and winning 25 trophies, including four Champions League titles and eight league titles.
Xavi’s first season in charge of Barcelona was a mixed bag as he took some time to make his mark. After winning his first two La Liga games in charge, the Spaniard’s first defeat came at Camp Nou against Real Betis but they destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico. Xavi failed to rejuvenate Barca’s stalling Champions League campaign, drawing 0-0 with Benfica before losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich as the club failed to escape their group.
Xavi was unable to pick up any silverware with Barcelona in his first season as the side failed to make a final across the 2021-22 campaign.
Barcelona was sitting ninth in La Liga when their new manager arrived but ended the season comfortably in second. If you’re soccer betting online, you’ve made a great profit fading Barcelona last season. Despite finishing second, they dropped points in almost half of their domestic fixtures the last term.
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La Masia Youngsters
The club’s financial crisis, which saw Messi and Antoine Griezmann leave last summer, has translated to a renewed focus and greater dependence on youth. In total, eight players from the second squad made their La Liga debuts last term. That number doesn’t include Ansu Fati, Araujo, and Pedri, who had already established themselves as regulars, although Pedri joined the first team directly from second division Las Palmas in 2020.
With Pedri, 19 years old at the start of this season, Gavi, 17, and Nicolas Gonzalez, 20, at the start of the season, Barcelona has three key midfield players who will enter this campaign as top players. While being the youngest and the shortest of the trio, Gavi has been a major box threat last term. The 17-year-old has also displayed an impressive ability to weave through defenders. Pedri, Gavi and Nico, plus Frenkie de Jong and others, will certainly be a talented batch that can thrive if used properly.
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Summer Transfers
Xavi’s January signings were also quite effective with Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both providing a much-needed attacking spark at times. Aubameyang arrived out of form from Arsenal, but he has been revived under Xavi, scoring 13 goals across his first 23 matches for Barca.
Barcelona has agreed on a deal to sell 10 percent of their La Liga TV rights for the next 25 years to global investment firm Sixth Street Partners. The deal will generate $270 million of revenue for this season’s accounts. The club said they hoped to make $610 million from multiple arrangements, in order to turn a profit and allow them to make Barca a competitive team once again.
Barcelona is expected to make a lot of new signings in the summer transfer window, as the Catalans look to strengthen their unit and compete for La Liga and Champions League titles next season. Xavi has already handed club management a list of targets ahead of the new season, with Barça currently involved in the pursuit of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Cesar Azpilicueta, among many others.
The situation Barcelona is in is extremely complex, but decisions need to be made fast. Barcelona confirmed that Franck Kessie has joined the club on a free transfer after leaving AC Milan. They’ve also confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Denmark international defender Andreas Christensen on a free transfer following his departure from Chelsea. They will definitely improve defensively and not lose many games next season, so we will start including them in our soccer picks and parlays.
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Lewandowski Targeted
In the past weeks, Robert Lewandowski has made it abundantly clear that Bayern Munich is no longer the place he desires to be. The Polish international outright stated that he no longer feels happy at Bayern and he wants to leave the club. His main priority is Barcelona and that move could solve the Catalan club’s attacking issues.
Recent developments in Barcelona’s financial situation have made it such that finances are no longer a barrier in order to sign the Polish superstar, but Bayern is making the task difficult. They are adamant about not adjusting their transfer fee, which might push Barcelona to look elsewhere.
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What’s Next for Xavi, Barcelona?
Despite some significant progress already being made, Xavi’s first season as manager of Barcelona ended without any silverware. The Spanish manager is no stranger to titles and will be desperate to win the domestic title and have a deep run in the Champions League. Xavi will relish the chance to spend big this summer renewing this Barcelona squad.
The Catalan giants are second favorites to win their domestic league at +140 with the latest soccer odds.
