Barcelona have rounded off their summer transfer window with two blockbuster deals of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix on deadline day.
However, there was a cloud of doubt surrounding Barca when the transfer window began due to their dire financial situation.
Having raised the expectations after the La Liga triumph, Xavi wanted high-quality reinforcements on all fronts, but Barca’s economic struggles proved to be a stumbling block.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Barca gradually weathered the storm and ended up having one of their best transfer windows in recent years.
There was a clamour for Lionel Messi’s potential return, and the Catalan giants also put in some efforts to try to reunite with their legendary figure.
However, the long-standing dispute with the Spanish League over Financial Fair Player (FFP) regulations saw Barca miss out on Messi, who chose Inter Miami as his next destination.
Barca quickly made amends by signing Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer, with the German’s arrival seen as a bargain given that he had just won the treble with Manchester City.
Sergio Busquets’ departure also triggered a comprehensive search for his successor. A large array of names were considered by the Blaugrana, but they ended up signing a surprise pick.
Girona’s Oriol Romeu was the chosen one. Although he was signed for a measly fee of €5 million, eyebrows were raised about whether he was a good enough replacement for Busquets.
It became clearer soon that Barca had made a bargain of transfer, with their former star seamlessly adapting to Xavi’s system.
While there was criticism about the lack of young signings, Barca ended it by announcing the signing of Brazilian wonder kid Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranaense.
The Blaugrana laid the groundwork for Roque’s transfer long before and beat a handful of European heavyweights to get the deal over the line.
Considered the next big thing from Brazil, Roque will move to Camp Nou next year.
Inigo Martinez also completed his long-anticipated move from Athletic Club to Barca on a free transfer.
One of the highlights of the window was Barca offloading the surplus players – something they failed to do in the past.
The departures of Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati, Samuel Umtiti, and several other players helped Barca reduce their wage bill and ease FFP restrictions to make room for new signings.
Dembele’s exit to Paris Saint-Germain was something Barca hadn’t prepared for, but the emergence of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal helped the Catlans placate the Frenchman’s absence.
The loan arrivals of Felix and Cancelo on deadline day were the icing on the cake for Barca’s excellent transfer window.
The Portuguese duo will likely provide the impetus for Xavi’s side to be competitive in the Champions League.
