Barcelona’s journey in the post-Messi era has been turbulent, marked by financial turmoil and poor performances.
The club has spent years now grappling with both off – the – field challenges and on-field performance issues. From not having funds to bring in transfer targets to not being able to register players, Barca fans have seen it all.
The on-field woes include missing out on Champions League knockout stages for the first time in two decades. For a club synonymous with success, these years represented a sharp decline.
Yet, after a string of managerial changes and stop-start transitions, Barcelona seems to have finally found stability and momentum under the leadership of Hansi Flick.
Barcelona’s financial issues are no secret. Years of overspending, exorbitant wages, and a poorly managed wage structure came to a head in the summer of 2021 when the club couldn’t afford to keep Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player in their history.
The departure of Messi not only left a void in their attack but also highlighted how deep the financial mismanagement had gone.
Fast forward to the new season, Hansi Flick has Barca looking and playing football like a club that was never in transition. His emphasis on a high-tempo, direct style of play has rejuvenated the squad and brought a sense of excitement to the Camp Nou faithful.
Barcelona has moved away from the slow, methodical build-up football that had defined them for years and adopted a more aggressive, direct approach. This transformation has reaped rewards.
After 8 games Barcelona sit 3 points clear at the top with 8 wins in 9 games and a tremendous goalscoring record with 24 goals in 9 games.
One of the most noticeable changes under Flick is the pace at which Barcelona now plays. No longer focused on possession for possession’s sake, the team is more direct, creating chances faster and with fewer passes.
This has made Barcelona’s attack one of the most feared in Europe. Flick’s decision to favor verticality, play Raphinha in a free moving role s paying dividends, as the Blaugrana seem to overwhelm their opposition in waves.
Off the field Flick’s effect is as significant as on the pitch, the introduction of a pre match dress code and strict fines for not being on time to meetings directly impacts playing time, as seen in Jules Kounde’s case.
Despite the strong performances, Barcelona has not been without challenges. The team has suffered several injuries to key players, with Gavi, Pedri, and Bernal being notable absentees. However, there is optimism on the horizon, as many of these players are expected to return after the international break.
In reality, these performances are still a curtain to the harsh financial reality the club faces in the background, that are bound to come front and center in January.
The club is still constrained due to FFP and La Liga’s rules, resulting in not being able to register new players, let alone sign them.
This means that Flick will have to bear at least another year of working under zero budget, making his transfer targets free agents. They will have to target quality signings like Gundogan and Inigo Martinez who were brought in on a free last summer.
Barcelona’s rumored transfer targets for next summer also follow this pattern. With Lewandowski ageing and Ansu Fati on a slow road to his full fledged former self, Jonathan David is a high profile name linked with the club.
The Canadian striker has yet to extend his contract with Lille, which expires in June 2025, setting him up for a potential big move this summer.
David has netted 25+ goals in two consecutive Ligue 1 seasons, establishing himself as one of Europe’s top forwards. With his contract running out, he could be an ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski under Hansi Flick, especially as he approaches free agency.
However, the competition for David’s signature will be fierce. Premier League clubs like Newcastle United and Inter Milan are reportedly also in the race, and Barcelona’s financial constraints could make it difficult to meet his wage demands that will only grow considering the interest he is attracting.
Another high-profile name on Barcelona’s radar is Leroy Sané, the Bayern Munich winger who has already spent time under Hansi Flick.
Sané’s situation at Bayern has become uncertain, particularly after Michael Olise’s arrival, which has limited his playing time. A potential move to Barcelona could provide the speed, flair, and versatility they need on the left-hand side.
Alongside the game time issue, Sané’s contract with Bayern expires in June 2025, meaning he could become a free agent next summer if an extension isn’t agreed upon.
This signing will also be a relief for fans after Barca’s forays to signing Nico Williams were unsuccessful and Ferran Torres has gotten off to a poor start this season. His ability to play on either wing would provide Flick with more tactical options
What might play a part in influencing Sane’s decision is a German coach in Hansi Flick who knows what Sane has to offer.
While Barca’s already flourishing attack is looking to be strengthened with new arrivals, their defense remains a concern.
Barca is yet to feature a full strength backline with Araujo and Christensen. Despite being at the top of the table, the back line has looked open at times and vulnerable to quick counters.
Barcelona’s backline lacks depth. Injuries to key players like Ronald Araújo and Jules Koundé have exposed the club’s thin defensive options. Yet, curiously, Barcelona has not been strongly linked with any defensive reinforcements for the upcoming windows.
To add to this is Ter Stegen’s season ending injury, while Szczesny offers a one season replacement, a long term option needs to be found as Inaki Pena has looked shaky between the sticks in the little we’ve seen from the Spaniard.
Marcin Bulka is supposedly the keeper in mind. The Ligue 1 goalkeeper replaced Szczesny in the Polish national team and at 25 years of age, has proven himself to be the fastest-growing player in Europe in his position.
Unlike the others mentioned as transfer targets, Bulka still has 2 years remaining on his contract which expires June 2026, implying that Barcelona will have to pay a sum that Nice sees fit.
Only time will tell how many of these moves materialize, For now, Barcelona fans can enjoy the resurgence under Flick, with hope that the German tactician is the man to lead them through this transformative period and that the pieces of the financial puzzle fall in place.