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Barcelona: Are the Catalan giants unraveling before our very eyes?

By Evan Siegel

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona (2R) celebrates as he scores their second goal with team mates Sergi Roberto, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Bernabeu on April 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona (2R) celebrates as he scores their second goal with team mates Sergi Roberto, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Bernabeu on April 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona are disintegrating before our very eyes

Few teams in international sports have enjoyed the same type of success that FC Barcelona have enjoyed over the last ten years. One of the two or three most successful teams in the world in any sport over that time span, Barcelona have continuously pleased their fans with trophy after trophy and have struck fear into every club looking to assert its dominance in Europe.

Slowly but surely however, this trend may be beginning to change. Barcelona are still and always will be a contender for the Champions League title, though it does appear that the team’s dominance is slowly beginning to wane. When looking at the team’s personnel, the club is not quite as powerful as it once was, and the club’s panic has been a reactionary confirmation of this reality.

While this trend is not being caused by one move, the departure of Neymar has left a gaping hole in Barcelona’s attack. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is obviously more than enough, but Barcelona have not been able to recover the way they would have preferred to.

The signing of Paulinho showed the lack of a plan from the team. Dropping 40 million pounds on an average midfielder combined with the expensive addition of Ousmane Dembele is proof that the club is simply searching for answers rather than finding ideal replacements and improvements for their team.

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Barcelona are also slowly seeing their longtime stars slip out the door. Andres Iniesta, the legendary midfielder who has been with the club for fifteen seasons, has admitted his consideration for leaving the Blaugrana. Xavi Hernandez, another long time star midfielder is long gone, and Barcelona have struggled to replace them.

For a team with inexhaustible funds and a massively attractive organization, Barcelona have struggled to keep up with the other elites surrounding them. Real Madrid has gained the upper hand in the domestic rivalry, while PSG, Manchester United, and Chelsea have all made considerable advancements towards overtaking Barcelona unless something is changed quickly.

Barcelona need to recognize this problem before it permanently cripples them. Their leader, Lionel Messi, has just entered his thirties, meaning that the team’s window for him is slowly beginning to shut. Luis Suarez is also in his thirties.

Next: Messi worked hard to keep Suarez at Barcelona this summer

Barcelona cannot panic and make irrational bids and signings, but the club has to have an elevated sense of urgency at the moment. Ousmane Dembele and Paulinho are not the long-term answers for the club going forward, as they are strictly “win now” tactics to help get over the departure of Neymar. Luckily for Barcelona, they have the star power, the manager, and the fan base to pull it off.

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