Barcelona were recently crowned winners of the 2014-15 Champions League, and along with that came the Spanish treble, beating bitter rivals Real Madrid by two points in La Liga, and Athletic Bilbao in the 111th Copa Del Rey.
The question we ask is, where to from here? Surely they could go out and do it again, but with Europe’s biggest clubs getting stronger around them, Barcelona have to stay ahead of the game.
I believe that with these five signings, we could see the Blaugrana dominate the European stage for some time.
**Note that they’re currently under transfer embargo, so all of this is all fiction.
Hulk – Zenit St Petersburg
I believe Hulk playing in Russia isn’t letting him be true to his full potential.
Sure you could say why would Hulk leave Zenit just to sit on the bench at Barca. Well he might not get that much first team football, but he’s getting the European experience that he needs.
With the arrival of Uruguayan Luis Suarez from Liverpool, it’s pushed Messi out to his ‘boyhood’ position at right-wing, and Neymar staying stationed on the left. Suarez is always in the right spot at the right time, so he is definite first team choice.
Hulk can give them that strength and power they need up front, however. I’m not saying Luis Suarez isn’t powerful, he’ll score goals anywhere, but so can Hulk.
We must remember the main reason why he would move, not because it’s the name of the club, or the players in it. It’s because he wants to win trophies in Europe and that is exactly what he’ll get.
Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund
Mats Hummels is one of the most talented centre-halves in world football. His strength and defensive tactical awareness is absolutely mesmerising. He currently sits at Dortmund, with no Champions League, no manager and a lot of his teammates leaving the club.
If he wound up at Barcelona however, it would be a great fit, Champions League winners and contenders every year, La Liga and domestic cup winners, all of which Dortmund failed to grab this season.
He would plug that hole in the Barcelona defence that was left by Carles Puyol, and he is the man to do it, if not Gerard Pique. I would definitely prefer Hummels over Jeremy Mathieu, an older less talented player, or Thomas Vermaelen, who is only a back-up player at Barcelona.
Hummels has said that he is staying at Dortmund but that might change when Barca come knocking.
Paul Pogba – Juventus FC
Pogba has seen it all, domestic cup wins, four league wins in a row and a Champions League final. So with that experience he’s bound to be jetting off soon.
Barceolna have been interested in him for a while, and had the opportunity to meet face-to-face in their Champions League final. They would need a man to fill the gap left by Xavi who has left the club at the end of this season.
His passing and his strength would mean a different suit to Paul Pogba in the La Liga which focuses mainly on quick passing and movement, but I’m sure he’d get used to it, and once he does, he will bomb that league to pieces.
Marco Verratti – Paris Saint-Germain
This fast and agile Italian playmaker would suit the La Liga perfectly. I see Veratti much like Andres Iniesta, he has got some pace about him, he will find that killer pass that slices open the defence and can pitch in with a goal as well.
Having said that, if Barcelona are looking long term, for example when Iniesta leaves, who better to replace him than an established midfielder who has plenty of Champions League experience and understands the fast game.
I’d love to see this guy win the Champions League one day, his work rate is absolutely outstanding and would suit the Nou Camp very well.
Aleix Vidal – Sevilla
The Sevilla right back took La Liga by storm, contributing seven goals and 11 assists in 35 appearances. He has also already signed for Barcelona in a £16 million deal.
Vidal has often played in the right-wing spot, but obviously that spot is not up for grabs with Lionel Messi his opponent.
He is to be the short-term replacement of Dani Alves, who after a lot of speculation and rumours and he himself stating “This could be the end of a dream for me” has signed a two-year deal to stay at Blaugrana.
It doesn’t mean his starting spot is safe, I’m sure Vidal has a lot to offer that Alves doesn’t, such as a lot of strength and amazing ball control.
These five signings would mean that Barcelona have the greatest team in the world, hands down. And their dominance in Europe means the continuation of the Barcelona legacy.
One important question is, now that Enrique is sure to stay will he make these happen? Can these transfers happen? We’ll have to wait and see.
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