This has been, without a doubt, the most exciting and intense transfer market in Barça’s recent history. The revolution announced by Laporta and demanded by Xavi is about to culminate with the last-minute operations that will be closed today. For now, the Blaugrana club has completely transformed the dressing room with six signings (Koundé, Christensen, Kessie, Raphinha, Lewandowski and Marcos Alonso, who will be announced this Thursday) and ten departures (Aubameyang, Mingueza, Riqui Puig, Neto , Dani Alves, Nico, Lenglet, Umtiti, Adama and Luuk De Jong). In addition, Coutinho has also been sold definitively, Trincao and Collado have been transferred again, Ray Manaj and Wagué have been discharged and they have been transferred to Jutglà. A total of 22 operations that could become 27 if they end up confirming the incorporation of Bellerín as a right back and the transfers / assignments / terminations of Dest, Pjanic, Memphis and Braithwaite. A deep essential metamorphosis for the construction of a new Barça.
The commitment to radical change has had to be preceded by the activation of up to four financial levers and, even, a personal endorsement from the president and treasurer Ferran Olivé to deal with the high investment (about 160 million euros) and the problems of ‘fair play’. The disastrous economic inheritance has forced complex decisions to be made that, without a doubt, are not the best solution… but they have been the only possible alternative to carry out the resurrection of the club. Laporta has decided to be brave (some believe reckless) and is gambling everything on one card: either titles are won this season or Barça will implode. The challenge is gigantic, after too many years of disappointments and failures, and the pressure will fall on Xavi, who has everything (or almost everything) that he has asked for to make a competitive team.
In this market of madness stands out, above all the protagonists, the figure of Mateu Alemany. His image of an executive eternally glued to his cell phone has become popular. And he has become the star of all the deals that have been carried out. Laporta signed him as director of football precisely for that. And his performance is, of course, way above some players with multi-million dollar contracts. To win titles in the field, you first have to do a good job in the offices. And Mateu Alemany has already scored several goals from his magic phone.