New-look Barcelona side for 2014/15.
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With two major deals looking like going through imminently, Barcelona’s potential starting XI for next season has taken a new shape, with Thomas Vermaelen joining the club from Arsenal to provide more options in central defence, but with Manchester United seemingly winning the race for one of Luis Enrique’s priority targets in Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado.
The new Barca boss has previously spoken about playing a 3-5-2 in big games this season, but that may now be in some doubt with Cuadrado’s signing thought to be pivotal in that tactical move, with the Colombian international the ideal signing to play as a wing-back on the right-hand side.
With both Barcelona and United in competition for Vermaelen and Cuadrado, it now looks as though the latter is about to slip away from the Catalan giants, even if they have won the race for the Arsenal captain in what is thought to be a £15m deal.
Assuming that the club will stick with a 4-3-3 formation, CaughtOffside looks at how these latest signings affect how Barcelona will look under Enrique this season, with Vermaelen competing with Gerard Pique for a place in defence.Goalkeeper and defence:
In a standard back four, Dani Alves keeps his place at right-back as Barcelona may have to consider keeping the Brazilian international on for at least another year, despite rumoured interest from Liverpool. On the opposite side, Jordi Alba will be first choice at left-back though he and Cuadrado would have been ideal as attacking wing-backs with more freedom to bomb forward.
In the middle, it seems likely now that with Barcelona shelling out £15m for Vermaelen, he will displace Gerard Pique as first choice alongside fellow new signing Jeremy Mathieu, who arrives from Valencia. Having previously been linked with big names such as Mats Hummels and Marquinhos, this pairing might not look ideal for Barca fans, but it is surely a big improvement on last season’s options at the back, with the club leaking far too many goals as they finished trophyless.
Midfield:
In a midfield three, Sergio Busquets should remain as first choice defensive midfielder, despite fine performances at the World Cup from Argentine enforcer Javier Mascherano. Alongside the Spaniard will probably be Andres Iniesta and new signing Ivan Rakitic, who joins on the back of a superb campaign with Sevilla last season. The Croatian playmaker should make a greta long-term replacement for Xavi in that midfield role, and has all the ability and quality to link up well with Busquets, Iniesta and the side’s forward players in the middle of the park.
Attack:
Another player to swap the Premier League for the Nou Camp this summer is Luis Suarez, who will be a familiar face for Vermaelen in Luis Enrique’s side (once he is allowed to play again after his ban). The Uruguayan looks likely to be the club’s main central striker now, with Lionel Messi and Neymar on either side of him, though of course three such talented attacking players can and will swap around and give defenders nightmares with their ability and movement, both on and off the ball. After a disappointing season last term, this looks a strong Barcelona lineup ready to take La Liga and Europe by storm again if the new signings can click quickly.
Barcelona XI in 2014/15 in full: