Gündogan is first of five Barcelona signings ahead of 2023/24 season
The German midfielder's signing was confirmed by the club on Monday
With the Barcelona's official announcement of the signing of Ilkay Gündogan, Joan Laporta and the sports management of the Catalan club begin to outline the squad for the 2023/24 season. A squad that, in principle, is expected to receive up to five new players to improve Xavi Hernandez's project and regain competitiveness in Europe.
Barça managed to be competitive at a domestic level this past season, winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup and fighting for the Copa del Rey until the semi-finals, only beaten by Real Madrid.
However, the team faltered at European level, both in the Champions League and Europa League. The squad proved too limited to compete in Europe when injuries and suspensions affected key players such as Ronald Araujo, Pedri and Robert Lewandowski. Hence the need to strengthen all lines.
With the arrival of Gündogan, Barça have brought in a player of the highest level, until now captain of Manchester City, the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup winners.
The German playmaker comes to the Blaugrana dressing room not only with talent and leadership skills, but also with the excitement of trying his luck at a new club that wants to return to the top of the world. The only question marks surrounding Gündogan may lie around his seniority; but given his performances for City last season, he deserves all the credit in the world.
FFP
In addition, in Gündogan's favour was the fact that he arrives on a free transfer and for an economy as limited as Barça's is at present, this is a key factor. This is also the case with Iñigo Martínez, who could be the next signing to be announced as, as in the case of Gündogan, he arrives on a free transfer.
The Athletic Club centre-back would reinforce the centre of defence to complete the list of central defenders with Christensen, Araujo, Koundé and Eric Garcia.
The Brazilian Vitor Roque, who is the striker called upon to complete the Barça forward line and provide goals for a line in which Robert Lewandowski has been very much alone in this chapter, is also pending finalisation of the details.
There are two other areas in which Xavi Hernández is insisting a lot. One, a fundamental one, is in midfield. The departure of Sergio Busquets has left this position severely depleted, and the difficulties in recruiting the coach's favourites (Kimmich, Zubimendi) have led the club to work on more affordable alternatives such as Oriol Romeu or Dani Parejo, on a temporary basis until the economic outlook clears up next season.
Finally, Barça are working to address the shortcomings at right-back. Sergi Roberto, Koundé and Araujo have been the luxury stopgaps this season, but Barça need a specialist for this position.
