Barcelona have failed to kick off the 2022/23 LaLiga Santander season as they’d have hoped, picking up just one point against Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Despite having completed five new signings and two contract renewals, Barcelona demonstrated that they need work on and off the pitch.
In fact, after the draw with Rayo, Xavi reached the conclusion that the club need to further strengthen their squad.
The Barcelona coach has demanded the signing of a right-back and insisted on it in the last few hours after Saturday’s duel.
He needs more signings to make a competitive team who can challenge for titles. The board is demanding trophies and that comes at a price, requiring certain conditions.
Who is coming in and going out at Barcelona?
A number of departures have yet to be finalised. The club needs to get rid of the players Xavi does not count on such as Samuel Umtiti, Martin Braithwaite and Sergino Dest.
They are also looking to cash in on players with high salaries such as Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to meet their salary cap and register Jules Kounde.
Barcelona want to sign Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and a right-back.
Against Rayo, Xavi used centre-back Ronald Araujo on the right flank and the Uruguay international suffered out of position.
The coach didn’t call up Dest and sent on Sergi Roberto in the second half when he moved Araujo to centre-back.
“I’m there for whatever the coach asks of me and to help the team and I’m learning,” said Araujo after the game.
That commitment is admirable, but the coach wants to have more options to choose from at that position this season.
