5 days ago on the 5th of August 2021, the football world witnessed a storm, where they saw an ending of an era, the ending of a love affair between a player and Club. Yes, you guess it right I am talking about Lionel Messi. When we talk about Barcelona nowadays simultaneously we talk about Messi, because of their bromance and the love story they had and you just can’t imagine Messi wearing other colors. I am not sure that a week ago any Barcelona fan had thought that one week later Messi will be crying and will be saying goodbye to their fans and the club. But today I am not here to talk about Messi or how his contract negotiations collapsed or his transfer saga. But I will talk about FC Barcelona and what is next for them?
Barcelona fans have faced many dramatic shameful losses in the last 4-5 years, but the worse that happens is Lionel Messi leaving. I don’t think Barcelona fans and even their team is ready to accept that there will be a team without Messi. And with Messi leaving everyone have their doubts about FC Barcelona season and how things will turn for them, as they have financial difficulties off course they just can’t buy the Messi replacements or add any other attacking options. Because Messi is the player who gives you 40-50 goals per season, which only Ronaldo can give, and on top of that 15-20 assists also which makes him irreplaceable and when it comes to attacking Barca is so dependent as their every attacking play goes through Messi, so replacing him will not be a piece of cake for Barcelona. So who will take responsibility or who are the youngsters in absence of Messi Barca can nourish them.
Antoine Griezmann is the player who needs to take responsibility now, this is his third season at Barca and now he can play at his favorite position where Messi plays, we have seen in the past with Atletico Madrid and France how good Griezmann is when he plays that pure No.10 role, where every ball goes through him and this is the season where Griezmann can show to the world that after Ronaldo and Messi, he can be a key man of any team and he has shown in the past and doing it in Barcelona will just stamp his authority and how great he is. Another player whom Barcelona should expect big things is Memphis Depay, I think he will play as a No.9 or a wide player but he can contribute to the goal scoring, I am sure he can score 25-30 goals in a season and can give those assists as he has shown with Lyon in the previous season and his partnership with Koeman can do wonders for Barcelona as they did for the Netherlands. And another player can be Ansu Fati, Barca fans compare him with Messi as he follows his footsteps and break into the team at the age of 16, and will turn to 19 in October but he has shown in the previous season before getting that horrible torn meniscus injury, he is a kind of player who can score those big goals and can do it consistently. I hope everything goes fine with injury recovery and as a fan, I have faith in him. And I have to mention one name here Yusuf Demir, I am not expecting him this season to blow everyone away but till now what we have seen from 18 years old is just sensational, and he can bring some excitement to the attacks he is a kind of player who likes to take on players and have good acceleration so he can be an enticing prospectus.
And when it comes to midfield, this is the year where Frenkie has to take a one step forward in his role, he will be crucial for Barca success and of course, young prodigy Pedri who was brilliant at such young age, and I hope he keeps himself fit after a long season and keep doing what he is doing. And there are many young talents or players whom Barcelona can bet on this season like Riqui Puig, Alex Collado, Gavi, and many more who can shine this year and can start creating a new era of FC Barcelona.
Good luck Barca fans, I hope the new era is as fruitful and enticing for you.
Thank you
Sportsoff 