Before the start of the ‘La Liga’ season, FC Barcelona feel like a serious challenge to Real Madrid again – if all the newcomers are allowed to play.
Florentino Perezalmighty and not uncontroversial President of Real Madrid, stands for an immensely successful era for the madridistas: If the royals prevail in the final of the Supercup against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday evening (08/10/2022), this would be the 30th title in the tenure of Perez – the Real boss would be just three short of catching up with Santiago Bernabeu, the legendary club president and namesake of the stadium.
Real Madrid – without Mbappé, but not weaker than last year
The biggest coup of the summer, after winning the Champions League trophy, could not be delivered even by Perez, who was used to success: Kylian Mbappeactually planned as the next galactic newcomer, surprisingly signed a new contract with Paris St Germain. The failed change triggered half a state affair in Spain, the league’s governing body even announced a complaint with the European Union and the French tax authorities.
But even without what is probably the best offensive player on the planet, it can be said that the squad of the Spanish champions does not look weaker than last season, on the contrary: for those saved Mbappe-Million brought Real the highly assessed Aurelien Tchouameniwho in France already as new N’Golo Kante applies and should be the midfield dominator in Madrid in the future.
Antonio Rüdiger should also be a real reinforcement in defense. And in attack, Real doesn’t have the miracle striker Mbappebut still Karim Benzema, voted the best player of the season in the Champions League with 15 goals and a guarantee for triumph in the premier class. Formed together with Vinicius Junior Benzema last year one of the feared attacking duos in Europe.
For Real’s arch rivals, the Barcelona FC, this may have been another reason for using almost everything to sign another top European striker: Robert Lewandowski. “He makes the Camp Nou dream” wrote the Barcelona-based sports newspaper Mundo Deportivoafter the longtime Bayern striker defeated Mexican club Pumas UNAM 6-0 in the game for the Joan Gampertrophy scored his first goal in the Blaugrana shirt.
With world footballer Lewandowski, Barcelona is ready to regain the supremacy lost to Madrid in Spain. Spanish media, including those from Madrid, have already raved about how well Lewandowski gets on with the young playmaker, especially Pedri. You really have to watch out for Lewa-Pedri, wrote AS.”
With the signing of a 34-year-old top striker, Barcelona has moved a little further away from its own club DNA, which made the club great, especially in the era under Pep Guardiola: A well-established, successful team that has sustained young players from the famous academy La Masia is reinforced. Talents that fit seamlessly into Barca’s game system because they internalized it from a young age. In addition to Pedri, the current squad also includes other youngsters such as Gavi and Ansu Fati – players who have long since demonstrated the potential to shape the Barca team of the future.
150 million euros for Lewandowski, Raphinha and Koundé
But for the present, Barca’s president Joan Laporta apparently had something else in mind. Laporta continued the risky strategy of high-priced star purchases that have brought the club to the brink of ruin in recent years. Besides signing Lewandowski, Barca also won the bid for Brazil attacking man Raphinha and centre-back Jules Koundethe club is said to have spent a further 150 million euros.
The Spanish media continue to speculate as to whether the Catalans will even get a game permit from the league for their newcomers. The club is still under surveillance because of its horrendous debts. Some adventurous-sounding reports are circulating Barcas Finance department, about alleged accounting tricks and other maneuvers. The club is said to have tried to invalidate the contract extension with Frenkie de Jong that had been arranged by the previous board, probably in order to subsequently reduce the already agreed salary for de Jong.
Pedri promises title: ‘We are Barca’
Putting all that aside and assuming that all the new stars will actually play – then the Catalans can definitely feel on par with Real again in the new season, and as the first challengers of the champions and Champions League winners. “The Presidium did a great job, the new signings are very good for us“Said national player Pedri at Mundo Deportivo. He promised the fans that they would not experience another horror season like the previous one: without a title and with miserable failure, only in the Champions Leaguethen in the Europe League. “We are Barca, we have to play for titles.“