What’s Barça’s Next Step?

Barça will end this season trophyless and there’s still uncertainty about where this club is heading. Is there an actual long-term plan or just more last-minute decisions? Some clarity would be nice so fans can be ready for either success or more agony for the near future.

FC Barcelona’s 2023-2024 season has been a disappointment. What began as a season full of hope and promise is now ending with doubt and dissatisfaction about the club and its direction. Barça and Xavi winning La Liga last season was a remarkable achievement and many felt that the club was heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, the club took one step forward by finally advancing to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, but it also took a few steps back as they suffered domestically. Madrid won the league title while defeating the Blaugrana in both league games and the Blaugrana failed to win either the Copa del Rey or the Supercopa. Perhaps Barça made the mistake of thinking that success would repeat itself and maybe underestimated how much better Madrid and other La Liga clubs would be this season.

FC Barcelona is a club in need of stability and a long-term plan, yet this club still appears to be operating on a day-to-day basis. Xavi was supposed to leave, and now he’s staying to manage the team again before he leaves when his contract expires next season.  Will players listen to him when they know he is leaving? How can the club plan for the future when they will be transitioning from Xavi to another manager? Do you sign the players that Xavi wants or save that money for the future manager? Do you also get rid of players Xavi doesn’t want, like Vitor Roque, or does President Joan Laporta let the next manager make those decisions?

Laporta has to inform the Blaugrana faithful of his plans going forward. Does he already have Xavi’s replacement in mind, or will it be a last-minute decision? Can this club sign players and get them registered in time while they juggle the financial requirements of La Liga? The financial situation of this club would scare off anyone interested in coaching this team. With the emergence of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, perhaps there should be more faith in the youth and not waste money on expensive signings. For example, Ferran Torres cost Barça €55 million while Ferran Jugtla was sold for €5 million. Ferran Torres has scored 25 goals at his time with the club while the latter has scored 26 goals in Belgium. Was it worth it?

Furthermore, we have seen different directors and advisors leave the club during the second era of Laporta. This doesn’t paint a good picture of stability. Until the Super League becomes a reality, the focus should be on a proper structure and not dreams of a financial windfall from a nonexistent league. It’s time for the club to adopt a clear plan going forward and not continue in this path of uncertainty.