The Classic was the icing on the cake. A game of scandal - despite being on the ropes in the first half for many minutes - to bid farewell to the year by all stops. No one would have imagined that Barça would end so well after the fatal start of the course that was forged in the Spanish Super Cup .
Ernesto Valverde has done his homework. Without discussion. And he has achieved something even more important: an almost perfect tuning with Leo Messi. The complicity between the two is total.
Far away is that tight relationship that the crack lived with Luis Enrique Martinez . The costumes were suffocated by the intransigent methods of the Asturian coach.
Now, the template is an oil balm. Everyone is happy and more focused than ever on doing their job well. They know that the Txingurri works from logic. And they value it very much.
Luis Enrique's experiments ended. André Gomes no longer plays everything, but maintains the opportunities to earn a place. It will depend on its performance, but it has it raw: Paulinho has completely eaten the toast. The Brazilian has won over Barcelona.
After a brutal League start -45 points out of 48 possible, 14 wins, three draws, no losses, 45 goals in favor, seven against, nine points more than the second and 14 points more than Madrid, with one game less -, all that remains is to prop up the team for the decisive stage.
World Mission on track
Things have been done very well, to Messi's taste : his goal was to close the league as soon as possible to rest in the second stage in preparation for the World Cup.
However, the challenge of the Champions will be very hard and the Blaugrana need to make adjustments in the template. It is decided to close a transfer in the winter market.
And the chosen one is a central level. Probably, the one wanted by Valverde, Iñigo Martínez , who was already close to closing in summer.
The cost of its termination clause is 32 million euros and would reach Barça to supply Javier Mascherano, who is going to China at the end of January. President Josep Maria Bartomeu has already taken note: Barça needs four top centers.
Valverde also valued the option of hiring Aymeric Laporte but has ruled it out because he does not want to hurt his old club, which is quite weak this season. In addition, the Athletic centrals are in a delicate situation due to testicular cancer that Yeraysuffered .
Priority: Iñigo Martínez
Therefore, Iñigo is the one who has more numbers to call at Barça to fight with Vermaelen for the third place at central. Yerry Mina will have to wait, although it is not ruled out to close his signing and give it to the Royal Society of Eusebio, so that he begins to familiarize with the style.
Philippe Coutinho, the great one wanted by Messi, Valverde and the board of directors, will have to wait. The Liverpool do not let it go at a reasonable price and could not play the Champions. It is the main objective for summer together with Antoine Griezmann .
The Barca - and self Messi believes there team to compete for everything and Dembelé will be the other big signing in January. The French will have to win because Paulinho has consolidated in the starting lineup brilliantly.
Maximum competitiveness
In addition to them, there are many players motivated to gain a place in the eleven and they would be left without options with a new signing: Denis Suárez, André Gomes, Deulofeu, Aleix Vidal, the now injured Paco Alcácer and the recently recovered Rafinha.
Arda Turan is a separate case. Although their conditions fit with the profile of the player that Barça needs , they are still punished and marginalized. Everything indicates that it will end in Besiktas .
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