08/16/2020 - 12:01
- Clarín.com
- sports
Lionel Messi's Barcelona has an open wound that will not close easily. For a team that in the not so distant past used to humiliate rivals in the Spanish League and in the Champions League, having suffered a historic walk with Bayern Munich 8-2 will not be left behind overnight.
Just two days after the Lisbon disaster, with the players already on vacation, the board plans the restructuring of the squad that for now is commanded by Enrique Quique Setién, although a large number of names are being considered to replace him, including the Argentines Mauricio Pochettino, Marcelo Gallardo and Juan Antonio Pizzi.
And the slogan for now among the leaders clearly points to a renewal, in a staff with heavy names that until not so long ago were synonymous with success and now they are designated as jointly responsible for the disaster. Among them, Gerard Piqué, who after the fall offered himself to step aside if that could be part of the solution.
Piqué's frustration against Bayern. (Photo: AFP)
But the darts are not only aimed at the defender but also at other players who seemed untouchable: among them, Jordi Alba , Sergio Busquets , Luis Suárez and Iván Rakitic.According to a news item published this Sunday by the Catalan media Sport, Barcelona is willing to listen to offers for all its players, with the sole exception of four.
One of those who is on the list of the non-negotiable is obviously Messi. The club will seek to advance in the negotiations for the renewal of his contract, which expires in 2021, and will have to appeal to arguments that go beyond the economic: already 33 years old, Leo will not want to spend the final stretch of his career in a team who has no major sporting goals.
The other three players that Barcelona wants to retain yes or yes are Marc-André Ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet and Frenkie de Jong. Part of the backbone of a team that clearly demonstrated that it needs new blood to face a future that does not immediately show anything promising.
Ter Stegen suffers the celebration of the Bayern players. (Photo: AP)
The will of the Catalan leadership to get rid of players has to do with a sporting issue but also with an economic one. In the midst of the crisis that was unleashed around the world by the coronavirus pandemic, reducing the wage bill became an urgent need. Because also the will is to bring reinforcements that help to dream of a reconstruction in the shortest possible time.
And when it comes to additions, the name of Lautaro Martínez was once again on the table, the scorer who is still active in the season after having gotten into the semifinals of the Europa League with Inter: this Monday he will look to convert against Shakhtar Donetsk in the second finalist of the tournament.
Barsa's other target is the Spaniard Eric García , just 19 years old, a Manchester City player under Pep Guardiola, who was also eliminated from the Champions League this Saturday after a surprise 3-1 loss to Lyon of France.
With both players, the Catalan club would have reached an agreement. The problem is the negotiation with his two clubs, who are not willing to leave them for nothing. They will want Barcelona to open its wallet, precisely in times when it has nothing to spare: now it expects fresh euros to come in for those players it considered essential not so long ago.
FK