Barcelona Still Focusing on Youth Transfer Targets Despite Summer Raids

Barcelona struck hard and fast in the transfer market this summer. For the most part, it seemed they knew exactly what they were after, and they went about getting it in a bloody-minded way.

In the modern, always-connected world—where minutiae about every move appears on Twitter and gets turned into entire news stories—transfer deals can feel like they are dragging on forever.

But when you look back at what Barcelona did in the summer, everything was concluded quickly, with the exception of their final signing, Paco Alcacer. 

That was because sporting director Robert Fernandez had a plan.

In July 2015, he took over the role Andoni Zubizarreta had held until he was sacked in January of the same year and got to working on his idea.

The signings made in his first year at the club were two players coach Luis Enrique had asked for and the sporting director had nothing to do with. In fact, the deal to sign Arda Turan had been agreed before Fernandez joined.

Fernandez’s aim, with the backing of Luis Enrique, was to freshen up Barcelona’s squad by adding talented young players who could be relied upon now if needed but were ostensibly for the club’s future.

Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano are two of the eldest members in the squad, and the club need talent ready to step in for them when they do go. That’s why Andre Gomes and Samuel Umtiti were signed, with the latter surprisingly close already to getting into the first XI on a regular basis in the Argentinian’s place.

Lucas Digne was added to offer Jordi Alba competition and potentially be the man who replaces the left-back when his pace fades, while Denis Suarez was an obvious option to be brought back to the club as a talented, versatile midfielder. 

Those four players were all 22 years old when they signed. The other two signings, Alcacer and Jasper Cillessen—23 and 27, respectively—also fit the bill.

Alcacer was needed as someone willing to learn and bide their time behind the MSN—Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar—trio, while Cillessen is the replacement for Claudio Bravo, who joined Manchester City. 

Bearing in mind he’s a goalkeeper, Cillessen still has his best years ahead of him. That said, his age mattered less because Marc-Andre ter Stegen is likely to be Barcelona’s goalkeeper in the long …

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