Who should be on Barcelona’s departure list this summer?
As the LaLiga season approaches its final fixture, Barcelona is turning its attention to the upcoming summer transfer window, which is expected to be a busy period for the reigning champions. The club's focus will be on both incoming and outgoing transfers, with Mateu Alemany and Deco leading the charge in identifying potential targets.
Various players have been linked with moves to Barcelona, including Lionel Messi, Ilkay Gundogan, and Inigo Martinez. However, Barcelona's financial situation remains delicate, which means that significant player sales will likely be necessary. Several first-team players have been mentioned as potential departures, with Ansu Fati, Raphinha, and Franck Kessie among the candidates.
Ansu Fati's future has been a prominent storyline in recent months. The 20-year-old burst onto the scene as one of the most promising young talents in world football, but injuries and a dip in form have hindered his progress under Xavi Hernandez. Despite this, Fati's recent performance against Mallorca, where he scored twice and displayed overall strong play, suggests that he still has value to offer Barcelona. Considering the team's limited options at left wing, there is an argument for Fati to remain at the club this summer.
Ferran Torres, another talented player, has yet to fully showcase his potential since joining from Manchester City in January 2022. With Raphinha's arrival last summer and Ousmane Dembele ahead of him in the pecking order, Torres has mostly been relegated to a squad role. If Barcelona is faced with the choice of selling either Fati or Torres, it would make more sense to part ways with the latter. Fati possesses a higher ceiling, and given the presence of more cover at right wing, it becomes a more reasonable decision to offload Torres.
Franck Kessie, who had an inconsistent first season at Barcelona, demonstrated improved performances at the start of 2023, particularly when Pedri was absent. While he has shown glimpses of his talent, Kessie doesn't perfectly fit into Xavi's system. With the potential arrival of Ruben Neves and a possible deal for Ilkay Gundogan, it would be logical to move Kessie on after just one year, even if it may not be entirely deserved.
Eric Garcia, who joined from Manchester City in 2021, has struggled to make an impact at Barcelona this season. He has not lived up to the promise he showed during his time in Manchester. With Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, and Marcos Alonso ahead of him in the pecking order, and the impending arrival of Martinez from Athletic Club, it would be sensible to cash in on Garcia.
Raphinha, despite occasional inconsistency, has had an impressive debut season at Barcelona. When Dembele was sidelined earlier this year, the Brazilian stepped up as the team's primary attacking threat. Having Dembele and Raphinha competing and pushing each other can only benefit Xavi and Barcelona, so the club should aim to retain both players unless an exceptional offer comes in.
As Barcelona prepares for a pivotal transfer window, decisions regarding player sales will be crucial in reshaping the squad and addressing the financial challenges faced by the club. The potential departures of Fati, Torres, Kessie, Garcia, or Raphinha will significantly impact the team's future composition and ambitions.
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