Though Barcelona are in pole positions to win La Liga and Copa del Rey this season, this has been a pretty underwhelming season for the Catalans, by their standards. Apart from the attacking trio, hardly has anyone fired and the La Liga giants have realised it is time to go for a revamp.
And it is starting all the way from the top it seems, as soon as the season ends, with the club already announcing the departure of manager Luis Enrique. The gaffer had some wrong transfer decisions going his way, which many states as the crux of this quiet season.
However, the good thing with Barca has always been that of the superior power of the board over the manager. Although the next manager is still unknown, the club has already jotted down their targets for next summer, and it won’t be without some names departing Nou Camp at the end of the season.
Here are 3 players Barcelona should sell to make room, this summer-
Rafinha- The Barcelona academy product has had a terrible season so far, by his standards. He was a regular in Enrique’s side in the initial stages when Andres Iniesta was sidelined for a month and a half with a serious injury, but Rafinha couldn’t take his chances as expected.
The 24-year-old old Brazilian midfielder has managed only six goals and two assists in 18 appearances and is currently out for the season with a meniscus injury. Barcelona’s midfield has the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Andre Gomes and Sergio Busquets and it was obvious Rafinha won’t be the first choice. He started from the right wing mostly in Lionel Messi’s absence and his first-team chances seem slimmer next season. He has already been linked with a move to England and is just a matter of time now.
Sergi Roberto- Perhaps the most criticised player in the squad this season, this, yet another Barcelona academy product has had some pathetic displays at the back. While his failure could be stemming from Enrique’s inability to use him in ineffective positions, which also indicates that he has been, quite like Rafinha, a redundant player to the squad.
He has been more regular to the side, the only reason being the unavailability of Aleix Vidal or any other feasible options in the right-back’s role. Roberto has six assists to his name so far, indicating his efficacy in the attacking third. The 25-year-old could be anything but a right-back.
Arda Turan- He has been the most non-Barcelona-like player, to be honest. His style of play and mentality is quite south of what La Masia academy tries to indoctrinate their players with. Though he has missed most of the season with injuries, Barca have never missed him.
He has played 18 times so far, scoring three and assisting the same number of times, mainly from the left-wing, where Neymar operates. And it goes without saying he will always be second fiddle to the Brazilian given his attacking attributes. He is also one of the expected departures.
