This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
With the transfer window still open, Barcelona's chances of winning the La Liga title have been boosted by their recent signings. The team has already strengthened their squad with the addition of Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong, who helped Ajax destroy Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Coach Ernesto Valverde is happy with the players he has, and the team's attacking roster, which includes Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, and Philippe Coutinho, hardly points to a need for a 222 million-euro striker like Neymar.
"I'm happy with the players I have," Valverde said on Friday. "Last year we almost had a perfect season."
Even Griezmann, who cost 120 million euros, almost felt like an extravagance, an opportunity too good to turn down rather than a need to improve on 90 goals in 38 league games last term.
However, the downward trajectory of Brazil's Coutinho, whose status has shrivelled further following the club's attempts to sell him this summer, means Griezmann already fits better now than perhaps he did in July.
So does an injury to Messi, who is likely to miss Friday's curtain-raiser away to Athletic Bilbao with a minor tear in his calf, giving Griezmann the chance to bed in with Suarez and Dembele, and without the pressure of performing with his captain.
Published on August 13, 2019, by AFP.
