Two Barça signings which don't make sense

Director de Información Deportiva de Prensa Ibérica

Jeison Murillo y Kevin-Prince Boateng, dos de los fichajes del Barça en este mercado de invierno | FCB

13/02/2019 Upd. at 11:41 CET

Barcelona were busy in the January window (when they usually aren't), making three signings. Two for the present (Murillo and Boateng) and one for the future (Todibo). They also agreed on a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Ajax in the summer.

The serious injury suffered by Samuel Umtiti (whose recovery is still shrouded in secrecy) and the sale of Munir forced Barça to react. There were two options: bet on youth team players to cover the two positions or sign on the cheap. They opted, pressed by Ernesto Valverde, for the second option. And two experienced players arrived in Murillo and Boateng to allow key players (Pique and Lenglet in defender and Luis Suarez in attack) to rest.

Bot signings surprised because neither really has the level to play at Barça. But the need to find an affordable option played a big part. And, once more, the cheap option has ended up being the expensive option. Because Murillo and Boateng have not added anything at all. Todibo's another issue, a bet for the future. His quality has surprised people early on and he could have a role to play sooner than later. But as for Murillo and Boateng...

DISAPPEARED. Murillo's played just 180 minutes of 13 games since his arrival. He played in the Copa del Rey games against Levante and, after being banned in the cup for an accumulation of bookings, he disappeared. Even from the squad, at times. Even more strange is the role Valverde's reserved for Boateng: he arrived, signed and debuted within 48 hours at Sevilla. Just 63 minutes before being replaced by Suarez. Since then, he's always been on the bench. It's clear that neither Murillo nor Boateng count for the coach.

So, why did he sign them? To be substitutes for the substitutes? There's no sense in investing three million euros on two loans. The supposed 'immediate performances' which justified the signings at the time has not existed. And, once more, Barça's policy on signings should be questioned. Would it not be better to have youth team players on the bench or in the stands? At least they would have Barça DNA.