Joan Laporta plans to keep Lionel Messi at Barcelona by building a winning project with these five possible signings next season
Since Barcelona won the treble in the 2014-15 season under Luis Enrique, the Catalan side has failed to find the winning formula to conquer Europe’s summit. In fact, since then, a pattern of embarrassing defeats has been formed in the Champions League as the club has been knocked out by Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AS Roma, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, all in the same fashion.
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The lack of success in Europe has been directed towards former president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. Many believe that the former representative of the club did not carry out his duties in the best interest of the club and some of the actions do justify the claims. Such as the hiring of bots to defame the club and several questionable signings.
Lionel Messi, in particular, believed that the lack of success in the Champions League had to with the fact that there was no project in place under Josep Maria Bartomeu. However, with his sacking and the possible appointment of Joan Laporta next summer as the president, Lionel Messi may reconsider his future and Barca might just become a European powerhouse once again.
According to reports from Spain, Laporta believes that he can build a winning squad along with a successful project that is sustainable. The prospective candidate plans on signing a defender, a midfielder, a winger, and two forwards.
Here are the five players that Joan Laporta may sign if he is elected as president next summer which could possibly keep Messi at the Camp Nou as well.
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The Defender
DAVID ALABA OR ERIC GARCIA
Both David Alaba and Eric Garcia have been linked with Barcelona for quite sometime. Eric Garcia in fact was close to signing with the Catalans this summer, however, the move did not go through due to reasons that are not completely known as of yet. Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola values the young Spanish defender very highly and hopes that the youngster renews terms with the Sky Blues.
David Alaba is also in the same boat. The Austrian defender’s contract expires next summer with Bayern Munich and has not yet agreed to a new deal with the German champions. It seems like Bayern Munich might lose one of the world’s most versatile players for free. However, if Barca plan on signing the player they will have to battle the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
The Midfielder
FABIAN RUIZ OR GINI WIJNALDUM
Fabian Ruiz was once considered as a priority signing at Barcelona, however, the Napoli midfielder’s name faded away once Ronald Koeman took over. The Dutchman wants Gini Wijnaldum of Liverpool at Camp Nou and believes that the Dutch midfielders physicality and work rate will work in unison with his tactics rather than Fabian Ruiz of Napoli.
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Under Ronald Koeman, Barca cover a lot more distance on the field and press more aggresively. Against Juventus in the Champions League, the Catalans covered 12.5 kilometers more than did under Quique Setien last season against Bayern Munich. Hence proven that Koeman prefers a physical workhorse which might be the reason why Laporta would go for Wijnaldum.
The winger
THE RETURN OF NEYMAR JR
Joan Laporta has mentioned it several times that Neymar must return to the Camp Nou. The Spanish candidate believes that if Neymar returns next summer then Messi will most certainly continue at Barca. With Messi and Neymar upfront, there is a slight possibility that the Catalans could go on to win their sixth Champions League title as well. However, signing Neymar will not come easy as the club would have to offer 180 million euros or more for the Brazilian. Given the fact that Barca has incurred heavy losses during the pandemic it is highly unlikely that the club could pull off this transfer.
Two Forwarders
LAUTARO MARTINEZ AND MEMPHIS DEPAY
Antoine Griezmann or Ousmane Dembele might be shown the door next season and in return the Catalans could sign Lautaro Martinez and Memphis Depay. Lautaro Martinez would fill in the role of Luis Suarez, however, it still remains uncertian on where Depay would play. If Dembele leaves, then Depay could take control of the left-wing. Nonetheless, Laporta would most likley go for the signing of Martinez as the player matches the qualites that the squad requires and Messi himself has demanded the signing of the Argentine on several occassions.
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