The blaugrana has once again dyed Europe one more year. He Barça directed by Jonatan Giraldez managed to be crowned, for the second time in its history, as the best team on the continent, in addition to adding the umpteenth league to its showcases. These good results, however, must coexist with a climate of uncertainty that is increasingly present. This 2023 also resulted in the departure of the project’s architect in recent years, Markel Zubizarreta, and the announcement of Giráldez’s goodbye once the season ends. The unknown about certain key renovations such as that of Alexia Putellas and the condition of his knee are some of the most immediate challenges.
On the pitch, Barça continues without a rival. The culés They signed, once again, record numbers. In the domestic competition they are still light years ahead of any other team. In Europe, more of the same. After the disaster of Turinthey came to Eindhoven with the conviction that history could not be repeated and, despite the fact that in the first part of the final the script was dangerously similar, the reaction came in a second part of madness that engraved the name of the Barcelona entity on the trophy.
The departure of Markel Zubizarreta
However, while the culés celebrated the title, doubts began to hover over the team and the structure. Markel Zubizarreta, ideologist of this team, was rethinking his future and had asked to leave the club a week before the final. After the information was made public, the negotiations became complicated and he came to reconsider his position while trying to close his departure from the Barcelona entity in the most beneficial way for both parties. For this reason, there were times when it seemed that He would fulfill his contract until June 2024.
But at the end of September Zubizarreta said goodbye to his office at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The reasons were various, such as interference by the club board and the discomfort due to the imminent cutback policy are key pieces to understand the reflection of the former Barça sports manager. He arrived at his place a little over a month ago. Marc Vives who, despite having no experience in women’s football, previously held the position of assistant coach of Vissel Kobe and even previously was in charge of the technical direction of the grassroots football of the Japanese club, to which Andrés Iniesta emigrated first and then David Villa, Bojan Krkic and Sergi Samper.
The doubts and uncertainty has set in in the Barcelona offices. Some of the heavyweight locker room renovations have yet to be resolved and only Patri Guijarro and Mapi Leon They have signed their new contract. The other contract extension that seemed closed was that of Jonatan Giralez. In fact, the club considered it closed when, a few weeks ago, the same coach informed them that he had made the decision to leave and not renew. Surprise and stupor gave way to haste when Relevo and EL PERIÓDICO They made public the decision of Jonatan Giráldez when the players had not yet been informed.
Now, with the certainty that Giráldez will not continue on the culé bench next season —and the doubts about how many staff members will accompany you in his new adventure on the North American Washington Spirit—in the noble zone of Johan Cruyff they recognize that they they have conversations with coaches—both from home and abroad—to find the relief as soon as possible.
The ‘Alexia folder’
Another of the folders that the Barça sports management must close as soon as possible this 2024 is that of Alexia Putellas. The captain ends her contract this coming summer and the club has already given her an ultimatum. In the Barcelona offices they have made it clear: the proposal that the footballer and icon now has on the table “It’s the best they can offer you.”“and, therefore, the figures reflected in that renewal proposal They will not move a single euro. From the player’s surroundings they are quiet, as this newspaper has learned. They reiterate that the the player’s intention is to stay at Barça, assuming that it will be for a lower contract than what he could sign at other clubs, since he values the sporting project above anything else.
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A warning, without a doubt, that does not come at the best moment for the footballer. The priority of Alexia, right now, is to recover with guarantees from the discomfort that has been going on for more than a month. Just a few days ago he underwent surgery to undergo arthroscopy, where the area of the affected knee. During the examination nothing unusual was found and sources close to the player admit that they are optimistic and hope to see her back on the pitch soon.
This 2024 is key for the project. Never before had it undergone such drastic changes and in a context of economic difficulties like the current one. Despite the promise of increasing the budget, as long as the section is profitable – a requirement that is not essential in any of the other men’s sections – there are many unknowns about how a high-level squad will be maintained in Europe if big stars, starting by the coach, they go to other destinations also for economic reasons. What happens this year will be a turning point.