Transfer window verdict: How Barcelona fared in the summer window

We’re a few days past the end of the summer transfer window, and so the inquest can begin as to whether Barcelona had a successful one or not.

Even before taking into account the comings and goings, the fact that a new big-name signing had to wait until the third game of the season to be registered is clearly unacceptable.

Yes, the financial mess that’s been created isn’t necessarily Joan Laporta’s doing, but that’s not the point.

The president, along with a sporting director in Deco that many culers are still not convinced by, could, and probably should have been a bit more honest in their transfer dealings.

No one likes a liar, and the supposed pursuit of Nico Williams that was never really going anywhere smacks of the Messi debacle back in summer 2021.

Laporta wasn’t popular then and he isn’t popular now, and signing Dani Olmo doesn’t make up for the president’s deviousness.

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

In terms of incoming players, Olmo and Pau Victor were the only deals where money changed hands.

For a club as world renowned as Barca, that’s downright embarrassing.

Whether Hansi Flick can get a La Masia-inspired XI playing good enough football is a moot point.

Surely, nothing would give culers greater pleasure than to see the likes of Marc Casado and the injured Marc Bernal, along with Fermin, Ansu et al do well, but the big-name signings are as much a part of modern football as bringing through academy talent, and the Catalans have to be in that conversation moving forward.

The club fared a little better with their outgoings, with subsequent cost savings on salaries surely coming in handy further down the line.

For all of their passion for wearing the shirt, Joaos Cancelo and Felix arguably weren’t the right fit for Flick’s disciplined Barca.

Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images

There was never going to be a future at the club for Oriol Romeu, Marcos Alonso, Sergino Dest and Clement Lenglet, and though it’s sad to see the likes of Sergi Roberto, Ilkay Gundogan and Vitor Roque depart, there are cogent reasons for each of them being moved on too.

Personally, I would’ve like to have seen some more of Marc Guiu, though if Ansu can finally stay injury free, he would almost certainly be a better bet as either a back-up to Robert Lewandowski or able to offer something different out wide if required.

Getting €10m for Julian Araujo and €9m for Chadi Riad is decent business considering their lack of top-level experience.

Overall, however, there is a feeling of huge disappointment that Nico and perhaps one or two other signings couldn’t be made.

The team have started off the season better than could’ve been expected though the strength in depth will be sorely tested once the Champions League starts up again.

January can’t come soon enough...