Xavi Hernandez centred his project at FCBarcelonaaround Ousmane Dembele. The Spanish tactician made the winger feel at home, spoke at length about his abilities and trusted him on the field like none other.
Despite having a manager who trusts him completely, the winger has decided to leave the club, leaving Xavi with afeeling of betrayal. After all, he now needs to find alternatives to fill the shoes of the pacey winger.
According to ɾєρօɾτs fromSPORT, theBlaugranashave decided that signing a new attacker to replace Dembele is not a priority. Instead, the management will place its faith in Ansu Fati this season.
A renewed presence in preseason
Fati did not have the best of runs last season. However, he came good in the final stages of the campaign, scoring three goals in his last two league appearances.
He has seemingly carried his positive run into the preseason.
In all three games in the United States, theLa Masiagem showed sparks of brilliance with glimpses of his former pacey and confident self.
In fact, it was the 20-year-old whoscored Barcelona’s winneragainst AC Milan with a sumptuous curling effort on a night when they did not count on Dembele.
Not long ago, Fati had been linked with a summer departure. But with the player’s reluctance to leave and his positive showings in pre-season, the 20-year-old is no longer up for sale.
Xavi to trust young talent to replace Dembele
While Fati’s strong run makes him one of the best-placed candidates to replace Dembele, the club’s decision to not sign a new player turns the spotlight towards Ez Abde as well.
The Moroccan star is the closest resource in Xavi’s squad who can provide the burst of speed and dribbling prowess that Dembele generated.
All eyes next season will thus be on the young duo. Moreover, Lamine Yamal has also generated positive impressions from the pre-season tour and will also push for regular minutes.
Objective right-back
Barcelona’s decision to not splurge the incoming funds on a new attacker douses the interest in players such as Joao Felix and Jeremy Doku.
Instead, it is likely that the money will be used to fortify the right-back position which is the team’s glaring weakness.
Joao Canceloand Ivan Fresneda are the two candidates best placed to arrive in Catalonia, although there are still internal disagreements over which player the club should sign.
A creative midfielder also remains high on Xavi’s wishlist, with Bernardo Silva seen as the iԀєɑł target, but finances might prohibit that move.
