Barca’s Montjuic era starts with Spurs Gamper clash
Barça's new phase begins this Tuesday on Montjuïc. It does so with the Joan Gamper Trophy, the friendly that serves to present Xavi Hernández's new project to the fans at home after having already played three games in the United States, with two victories against Real Madrid (3-0) and Milan (1-0) and a defeat against Arsenal (3-5).
The match should also give the home fans a chance to see the new signings. At the moment there are three: Ilkay Gündogan, Oriol Romeu and Iñigo Martínez. The latter is still recovering from plantar fasciitis, which will keep him out for a few weeks, while the German international will be given minutes after recovering from the right abductor discomfort that forced him to leave the field in the derby in Dallas and to be left out against Milan.
The match against Tottenham marks the start of an exile in Montjuïc that will last until November 2024. The change of home due to the works at the Spotify Camp Nou has not been very well received by the club's season ticket holders, who have not managed to hit 20,000 season tickets sold. However, the club is confident that the team will be encouraging the fans to climb the 'magic mountain'. In fact, the sensations are very good after the tour of the United States. Especially because of the way Xavi's side played for large periods against Real Madrid and Milan.
Barça have the squad to defend the deserved league title they won last season and are still waiting for two or three more reinforcements before the market closes. Some of these players will arrive with the money earned by Ousmane Dembele's sale. The Frenchman, forced to return by Barça when he was already in France, is still in the team dynamic and under the orders of Xavi, but it is clear to everyone that he will play for PSG for the next five seasons when the three parties reach an agreement. In fact, the French striker will not have minutes today against Tottenham and we will see if he takes part in the presentation of a squad of which he is still part, but which he no longer feels is his own.
