The Blaugrana may have won a domestic double in 2024-25, but more market drama is guaranteed in Catalunya in the coming months
The 2025 Champions League final was a confusing watch for Barcelona fans. Some were quick to express their delight for former Blaugrana coach and player Luis Enrique, who led Paris Saint-Germain to victory in Munich in incredibly emotional circumstances.
Others, though, were busy trying to figure out how on earth Barca had been beaten by an Inter side torn to shreds by Desire Doue & Co. Indeed, the 5-0 scoreline only compounded the Catalans' sense of frustration at coming out on the wrong side of a 7-6 semi-final loss to the ageing Nerazzurri.
However, while PSG's belated ascent to the summit of European football does not bode well for Barca – or anyone else for that matter, given the youthful nature of Luis Enrique's squad – there is clearly still even more to come from Hansi Flick's formidable double-winners.
When the 2024-25 season began, few pundits were predicting such a successful campaign for a club still mired in financial disarray – and yet Barca beat hated rivals Real Madrid four times on their way to winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. The fact that they did so with a plethora of players from La Masia only made that twin triumph taste all the sweeter.
Even more encouragingly, it seems as if Barca, for all of their economic issues (which could well lead to UEFA sanctions!), will be able to make a few significant signings this summer.
With that in mind, GOAL outlines the Catalans' most pressing needs, both in terms of comings and goings, before the start of next season…
Getty Images SportMake room for Garcia
Before the summer window opened, goalkeeper didn't look like a priority position for Barcelona. After all, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will soon be ready to return to action after missing nearly the entire season with a knee injury, while Wojciech Szczesny had done a fine job replacing the German after Flick decided that Inaki Pena wasn't quite up to the task.
However, sporting director Deco deemed the opportunity to sign Joan Garcia too good to pass up – and one can understand why. The Espanyol No.1 was arguably the most impressive shot-stopper in Spain last season and his €25 million (£21m/$28.5m) buy-out clause makes him a bargain buy.
Plenty of other clubs were interested in Garcia, who not many people thought he would be willing to cross the Catalan divide, but he's now reportedly agreed to the move, meaning Barca now have a succession plan in place earlier than anticipated.
Of course, the question now is what happens to the other three goalkeepers on their books. Pena is almost certain to leave, but one of Ter Stegen (33) and Szczesny (35) will have to go too.
Ter Stegen is, of course, Barca's captain, but he's also a more valuable asset. Consequently, there's every chance that the Blaugrana will try to generate some much-needed capital by selling their skipper – even though he appears to have absolutely no intention of leaving.
There's a chance, then, that this situation could get a little messy unless Deco already has a solution in mind…
AdvertisementGetty ImagesFind a new home for Fati
It's been seriously tough to watch the decline of Ansu Fati. Back in 2019, he was essentially Lamine Yamal, an outrageously gifted teenage attacker breaking one record after another.
Now, though, he's surplus to requirements at Barcelona – and has been for some time. Unfortunately for the Blaugrana (and for Fati), a year-long loan at Brighton did not go well at all, failing to materalise into a permanent move to the Amex – or generate any other interest in the forward's services.
Consequently, he returned to Catalunya last summer and spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sitting on the bench, making just 11 appearances in total, starting only three games and failing to contribute a single goal or assist.
However, help, it seems, is finally at hand, with Barca and Monaco reportedly close to agreeing a loan move for next season that would include an option to buy, which the cash-strapped Catalans will be praying is taken up. It would obviously be sad to see Fati leave, but it really would be the best for everyone involved.
AFPStrengthen at full-back
If there's one area of the field where Barca are light on cover, it's full-back. Both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde serve as tremendous outlets down their respective flanks, with the pair providing eight assists apiece last season. However, when either man is missing, or simply requires a rest, Barca don't look quite so offensively threatening or defensively secure.
Gerard Martin, for example, did well going forward in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter, but only after being hauled off at half-time in the first – which explains why speculation is mounting that Barca are going to make a move for Leverkusen's La Masia graduate Alex Grimaldo to challenge Balde for the left-back berth.
It's been reported that Eric Garcia's stellar showing at San Siro has convinced Deco that he can be Kounde's understudy next season, but that feels a little reactionary. The former Manchester City defender is a versatile footballer – he can also play in midfield – but Barca would be much better off bringing in a specialist right-back this summer, especially if Flick doesn't yet have full faith in the 18-year-old Hector Fort, who started only five times in all competitions last term.
Getty Images SportStart searching for an Inigo successor
Missing out on Jonathan Tah was a bitter blow for Barcelona, as it's rare that such a top-quality centre-back becomes available on a free transfer. The Germany international wanted to join, too, but the deal reportedly collapsed because the Blaugrana weren't in a position to make any promises over his registration. Consequently, Tah ended up leaving Bayer Leverkusen for Bayern Munich, and leaving Barca in something of a pickle.
Child prodigy Pau Cubarsi and seasoned campaigner Inigo Martinez formed a wonderfully complementary partnership last season – but the former shouldn't be relied upon to start every single game at such a tender age, and the same goes for the latter, given he's just turned 34.
Of course, Ronald Araujo signed a contract extension in January, but the Uruguayan is such a peculiar player. At times he looks like a world-beater; on other occasions, a complete liability – which is why there was a suspicion that Araujo was given a new deal just so Barca could sell him for a reasonable fee this summer.
It's not as if the Blaugrana lack depth, after all. Andreas Christensen is just back from injury while the aforementioned Garcia would no doubt relish more game time in his preferred position. However, Barca are definitely going to need to sign a worthy successor to Inigo sooner rather than later, and cashing in on Araujo would at least go some way towards paying for one now that Tah is off the table.
