adminMADRID. — In contrast to the previous two years Barcelona have enjoyed the calm of a summer without major changes on and off the pitch after claiming a second treble in six years. Success breeds stability, but the lack of movement in the transfer market was partly imposed on the club as it served the last of a two-window ban on registering players for breaking FIFA rules in signing minors.
That hasn’t stopped the Catalans splashing nearly 60 million euros on Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal from Atletico Madrid and Sevilla respectively, but neither will be able to play until January when the market reopens.
Both were signed ahead of the big event of Barca’s summer – their presidential elections – as Josep Maria Bartomeu attempted to pull out all the stops to stay in power.
There were also new contracts for coach Luis Enrique and Dani Alves and the elections went swimmingly for Bartomeu as he routed former president and long-term rival Joan Laporta to win the right to lead the club for another six years.
So what can stop a settled Barca side containing a front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar which scored a record 122 goals on the way to winning the Champions League, Copa del Rey and La Liga last season?
At Barcelona a drama is never far away as evidenced by the fact that Enrique was on the verge of the sack back in January before ending his debut season in the hot seat with three major trophies.
Off the field, despite his election success, Bartomeu’s position is likely to come under more scrutiny as he is due to stand trial later in the year on tax evasion charges over the controversial deal which brought Neymar to the club in 2013.
Meanwhile, on it there could also be problems ahead due to a lack of balance as evidenced by a 5-1 aggregate drubbing by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup and blowing a 4-1 lead against Sevilla before claiming the UEFA Super Cup 5-4 after extra time just days previously.
Even when Turan and Vidal are free to play they are likely to be restricted to bit part roles amongst a throng of attacking talent. — AFP.
Online Reporter