Fc Barcelona has been one of the most recognizable football clubs on the planet for over 2 decades.
They have often boasted a roster of the best players available, from Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo, lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Carles Puyol just to name a few.
Under pep Guardiola they dominated world football with the now legendary tiki-taka on display, truly a golden era in the club’s history.
Over the past 5 years, Barcelona has stagnated and regressed as multiple horrible transfer decisions and hirings have handicapped the club.
The famous la Masia which once provided the club with gems like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Xavi Hernandes has dried up significantly.
These are the transfer windows that severely put a dent in the progress of this squad.
2017/2018 transfer window
This was a crucial point in recent history for Barcelona. In a move that changed the football business structure forever, Paris saint Germain secured the service of Barcelona talisman Neymar jr for 222 million dollars.
This sent shockwaves through the world. Neymar was one of the best players in world football, still in his prime and he was part of one of the deadliest trio football had ever seen. Barcelona fans were shocked at the betrayal, neutrals were astonished by the exorbitant price which to be fair at the time Neymar was more coveted than gold.
Barcelona immediately entered into repair mode, adding Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho and Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele for 135 and 140 million dollars respectively. Also, Paulinho from ever grande for 40 million.
At the time Barcelona was content with their dealings and saw Phillipe Coutinho and Dembele as substantial replacements for the creative influence of Neymar. They weren’t.
Coutinho was never integrated properly into the team. Although he showed a couple of bright spots along the way ultimately a setback always seemed around the corner.
He departed on loan to both Bayern and Aston villa in the next 2 seasons before Barca cut their losses, selling him to steven Gerrards Aston villa for 20 million.
Dembele has been a frustrating mix of both stagnation and brilliant talent. On his day the Frenchman is one of the most creative and inventive wingers in the world capable of taking on and beating any defender.
His first season At Barcelona was plagued with injuries that robbed him of valuable game time. He started the second season with more vigor, which lasted for a short period of time as reports would surface claiming he had a gaming addiction and diet issues.
He was also reportedly late for training on various occasions. Those who questioned his professionalism at Dortmund seemed vindicated.
Under Xavi he has shown signs of reaching the heights that made him a global superstar at Dortmund, although the current contract stalemate brews on.
2020/2021 transfer window
It felt like a revelation unfolding in front of me. For Barca fans, it must have been a nightmare.
I watched the best football club on earth deteriorate yearly at a rapid rate, Neymar was just the first to fall.
In of the most bizarre periods ever, Barcelona let go of Luis Suarez to Atletico for 9 million, Ivan rakitic to Sevilla for 3.5 million……yes, that was not a typo.
Wait there’s more. Arthur the Brazilian midfielder was basically swapped with miralem pjanic with Barca getting an extra 15 million.
For more context, Barcelona let the then 24-year-old talented Brazillian go to Juventus, get this, for the 31-year-old talented pjanic…..wow.
What is your transfer policy? Who green-lighted this? Why would you do this to yourself?
Let me make you fully understand how mad this all is, they loan pjanic out the next season to Besiktas. I’m not joking. For real.
Suarez ended up winning the Spanish la Liga with Atletico Madrid, scoring 32 goals in 67 appearances.
2021/2022 transfer window
Don’t get me wrong Barcelona secured some amazing talent in this window.
Pierre Emrick aubemayeng and Memphis depay on a free transfer has to be seen as beautiful business while the Catalans also splurged 55 million on the Spanish youngster Ferran Torres.
Although all those are really exciting additions to the squad, the departure of lionel Messi utterly destroyed any excitement. Plus there was Sergio Aguero being forced to retire due to unforeseen medical complications.
Antoine greizmann was suddenly sent on loan to Atletico Madrid. Why strengthen your rivals? There would have been sufficient interest from England and Italy to take him on loan. Why ship him to your direct rivals?
Coutinho and pjanic were sent on loan leaving the question, weren’t these big money transfers organized for the long term with specific players that they were ready to trust?
Barcelona are lucky to have gavi, Pedri and faiti. They must build around them smartly and invest in the squad with the realization of where they stand financially and as a sporting club.
If not they will continue in stagnation as these bright young talents further stagnate with them.
