I too would leave after getting all my minutes taken by cesc lmao

regardless we need a proper xavi replacement
verrati is more unlikely than thiago and pogba (who isn't even in that same mold) is worth 100m.

Why do we need a Xavi replacement? Is this 2012? Last time I checked we won 5 trophies since Xavi was relegated from the first XI and the team is functioning with Rakitic who is only 27. What we need is better depth upfront and at LB and a class CB and that's it.

let me rephrase, we need a creative midfield, not a workhorse
as fun as it is to see messi and iniesta be the only ones who can do anything from the midfield it would be even better to see someone control the game
iniesta is how old now? once he declines or retires whats next

sergi roberto----rakitic?

or halilovic --- rakitic? we need that extra midfield who will take the starting role lol and maybe that is turan but we've yet to see if he can do well with us... or even play midfield for us

Sevilla have formally asked to sign Marc Bartra (24) on loan in January, with 12M buy option. The player is considering to leave. [sport]

Would prefer to sell him outright. When he inevitably fails he will have no value left whatsoever. Right now we can still squeeze out € 10 million out of someone for him.

He has the markings of good CB, but he will never improve if he never gets playing time. Experience is everything for a CB and the experience of training with Barca is not enough. Buying 2 CBs pretty much ensured his development would stop with us.

That being said Mathieu, Verm and Masche are all pretty old, I'm sure he will get more chances next season.

i would rather do a buy back option tbh never know what'll happen.

We should loan him out or sell with buyback option. He's the best youngish CB in spain and we'll need him in a bit.

At the request of Luis Enrique, Barcelona are not considering to let centre back Marc Bartra (24) leave in January. [sport]

Gud move

Scrubrique confirmed.

futbol wrote:Scrubrique confirmed.

Ya because selling decent young guy, who plays in the position which is Achilles heel for club and current players who play there will be lucky to start in low table teams, makes so much sense!
Dear beloved futbol u need to get laid asap mate

Plot twist: futbol is a woman and she's on her period.

Or futbol is pregnant woman explains all the mood swings

Grimaldo to sign with Benfica until 2021 [several outlets in spain and portugal]

Sandro likely to join Tottenham. They are willing to trigger his 12M release clause [sport]

Some guy named Robert has been signed for the b team

talks about the new b guy being cancelled, old tweets showed him saying hala madrid and somewhere along the lines of fuk catalonia

some players the agents should tell them to stay away from social media so their little brains couldn't mess up what little chances they could get.

Grimaldo officially gone for € 1.5M to Benfica. Easily the worst decision Luis Enrique made in his time as Barca coach so far. A place in the squad for that clown Douglas, playing Mathieu out of position who gets rekt everytime as LB but getting rid of Grimaldo without giving him a single chance with the first team? Grimaldo better turn out a total dud now at Benfica to justify this kind of decision.

Wtf

Don't understand this management at all sometimes. Like that few actually means anything to us either basically giving him away for free

Kid could very easily turn out to be a gem like Bellarin turned out to be. Imagine Bellerin and Grimaldo, an all Catalan masia force on our flanks. Instead we are gonna have to face Bellarin in the Champions League and didn't even bother to give Grimaldo a shot. Instead Lucho prefers always injured Adriano or old, slow, and terrible at LB Mathieu. Way to lock down our future...

On a side note, will Vidal/Turan be available for the January 2nd game vs Espanyol? I think I read somewhere that the ban ends January 4rth, which is conveniently the day after our game even though it's already 4 days into the new years..

CBarca wrote:Wtf

Don't understand this management at all sometimes. Like that few actually means anything to us either basically giving him away for free

It gets better. There is a sell-on clause. If Benfica sell him until 2019 Barca get a whooping 15 % of the fee. After 2019 a staggering 10 %.

Let it sink in for a moment what that means. So if he actually becomes good, say a € 15, € 20, € 25, € 30 million player, Barca get back somewhere between € 1.5 - 3.5 million for giving away a € 15, € 20, € 25 or € 30 million player for € 1.5M.

Troll-on clause. Thank God Bart didn't forget to include that.

the transfer isn't down to our management though.. more on lucho
the kids contract runs out in 6 months, anyone who thought he was going to have a buyback contract clause or some sht like that is delusional

Blame falls wholly and squarely on Enrique. The board shares no part of the blame whatsoever. In fact, they deserve credit for selling him now and for inserting the sell on clause.
1.5 million isnt much but it is still better than letting him walk for free.

Yeah? Care to remind us again who is responsible for sorting out player contracts and letting them run out in the first place?

Grimaldo: "I want to stay here. The club can extend my contract for one more year, but they haven't told me anything yet."

That's from just a month ago. He would have stayed regardless of Enrique giving him playing time or not. The board wanted to get rid to make some more bucks by selling youth players just as Bartomeu promised before he got elected.

Enrique not considering him at all and relying on Adriano and Mathieu instead is another matter but not the reason why he left Barca to play for Benfica.

La Masia is now a place to farm players and sell them at a sales prices. It makes no sense. We don't even cover our 20M per year expenses with this method and don't produce enough talent for the first team as we let most of them go for ridiculous prices (Traore, Deulofeu, Grimaldo, it seems Sandro... perhaps even Samper at this rate).
I fear for Lee Seung Woo.

Why are sexist comments validated on this board?

On topic, it's getting obvious by the day that Enrique is merely looking to upgrade his résumé, locking down our future is the last thing on his mind. I don't blame him, it's not like he's a tactical pioneer or a charismatic motivator to carry on his Barca legacy elsewhere.

I can't wait for the day when my club can actually rely on a genuine football mind with a long term vision. No more impostors.

À bout de souffle wrote:Why are sexist comments validated on this board?

I guess you are one of those who think sexism only applies to women.

Try not to offend somebody in 2015: good luck.