Barcelona: Taking a look at their newest additions for the summer

Let’s take a look at some Barcelona newbies, shall we?

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that we are all currently facing, Barcelona has three confirmed arrivals for their 2020-21 season. The three entrants will soon be able to prove their worth in one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Barcelona has overtime distanced themselves from La Masia, Barca’s youth academy, where some of the biggest talents in football have gone to become legends. Players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Victor Valdez, Sergio Busquets, and many others that the prestigious academy has produced. Barcelona’s youth system has slowly put players aside, and the board has looked abroad for young talent to bring that needed spark for the Catalan Giants.

The most recent young additions to the club were Arthur and centre-back Todibo, who signed with the club in 2018, and Ousmane Dembele, who signed with the club in 2017. These additions, alongside other talented players, have been essential pieces in the squad.

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These players have slowly been decreasing the opportunity to players who’ve been with the club for years. Players who don’t seem to get a chance with the first team try their luck elsewhere.

La Masia’s most recent players to have made the jump towards first-team appearances include the 17-year-old sensation, Ansu Fati, who has now scored a total of four goals in 17 appearances. Fati, since his debut for Barcelona he has proven to be an essential and essential piece in the attack.

The beloved youngster and 20-year-old Riqui Puig, though with only four appearances for the Blaugranas, he has won the hearts of many Culers around the globe. Puig is on the road of success, and his playing style is very similar to club legend Xavi Hernandez.

Lastly, Uruguayan centre-back Ronald Araujo has been under the radar for quite some time now; Araujo has slowly received enough confidence to be called to some of the most recent call-ups in the first team.

New Boys in Town

With some of these youngsters in mind, Quique Setien has a difficult choice to make as to what other players might he keep for next season. Players who have officially been announced by the club 20-year-old Portuguese Francisco Trincão on January 31st, 2020, effective July 1st, 2020.

Trincao signed a five-year contract for a 31 million euros fee with a buyout clause of 500 million euros. Trincão is quick and technically gifted with a vision that means he is a great creator of goals as well. The new Barça player also has the ability to take defenders on with his dribbling skills.

That same day, Barcelona announced the signing of Matheus Fernandes for a total of seven million euros with three million euros in add-ons. Fernandes signed a five-year contract with a buyout clause of 300 million euros. Matheus stands out for his defensive qualities in midfield and his ability to bring the ball out from the back.

The third and final player to be announced officially is 17-year-old Spaniard Pedro Lopez, known as Pedri. Barcelona announced Pedri on September 2nd, 2019, effective July 1st, 2020. Pedri signed a two-year contract for 5 million euros with a buyout clause of 100 million euros for Barcelona B and 400 million euros if he is already a first-team player. Pedri is a versatile player who likes to go towards goal with his dribbling skills and his off the ball movement.

These three additions will bring a lot of control with the ball and will have to step up their game to become essential pieces in Setien’s squad. Given that some players from the first-team squad will be leaving in the summer, there is no doubt that these youngsters will receive opportunities ahead of next season to prove themselves. With the players that are rumoured to leave the squad over the summer, surely some other players will arrive as to mark competition for the starting eleven squad under Setien.