9 transfer market mistakes from Barcelona.
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9) Cesc Fabregas
Signed for ‘political’ reasons more than because they needed him, Cesc Fabregas never really got a game in his best position for Barcelona before being sold three years later for just £30m. As his form at Chelsea shows, the club have lost a world class playmaker.
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8) Thierry Henry
One of the best Premier League players of all time, but signed by Barcelona from Arsenal after he’d reached his peak, and he never really got going at the Nou Camp despite playing his part in their treble-winning season of 2008/09.
7) Samuel Eto’o
After firing them to the treble in 2008/09, Samuel Eto’o was then for some reason sold by Barcelona to Inter Milan, who then won the treble themselves the following season with his help.
6) Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Arriving as part of the ill-thought-out Eto’o deal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a nightmare in his single season at the Nou Camp before being offloaded for a fraction of what they paid for him.
5) Yaya Toure
Another player Barca should never have let go, Yaya Toure has shone at Manchester City after being trusted in a more advanced midfield role that he was rarely used in at the Nou Camp.
4) Alexis Sanchez
Superb in his final season for Barcelona, Alexis Sanchez has also looked the part for Arsenal since he joined this summer, and is another player undervalued by the La Liga club.
3) Thomas Vermaelen
Injury-prone and not all that great a defender anymore, it is hard to know what exactly drew Barcelona to Thomas Vermaelen when they signed the out-of-favour centre-back from Arsenal this summer.
2) Alex Song
Signed and then barely played, it is not quite clear what Barcelona were thinking when they signed Alex Song from Arsenal, a player they surely never needed.
1) Alex Hleb
One of the most bizarre signings of all time, Alex Hleb was hopeless for Barcelona after joining the club from Arsenal, and they spent most of his time at the club trying and failing to sell him on.