The Catalans spent in the region of $245.6 million (\u20ac212 million) to reinforce an already formidable side that\u2019s won back-to-back La Liga<\/a> titles under the German boss. The marquee acquisitions of Rodri, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have already shown flashes of how they can improve the team, and the last-minute signing of Gabriel Jesus only makes Bar\u00e7a a deeper, more competitive side. <\/p>\n Familiar faces also left the club in the summer, with the club bidding farewell to forwards Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, as well as last season\u2019s captains Marc-Andr\u00e9 ter Stegen and Ronald Ara\u00fajo, with the latter pair leaving on loan. A number of La Masia talents also left the club, with Ansu Fat\u00ed and Marc Casad\u00f3 the two most prominent departures of homegrown players. <\/p>\n Roster Strengths Barcelona added one of the best defensive midfielders in history. | Joan Valls\/Urbanandsport\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that, when they\u2019re at their best, Barcelona now have the best No. 6 and No. 8 in world soccer in their ranks with Pedri<\/a> and Rodri<\/a>. As Bar\u00e7a\u2019s history seemingly dictates, Flick has the best most complete midfield in world soccer at his disposal. <\/p>\n Rodri joining Barcelona didn\u2019t even look like a possibility when the window started\u2014he was a Real Madrid player in waiting. But after helping Spain conquer the 2026 World Cup as the player of the tournament, Barcelona highjacked Rodri\u2019s move to Madrid <\/a>and quickly agreed to personal terms with the player. Then, they struck a deal with Manchester City to make the 2024 Ballon d\u2019Or winner a Blaugrana. <\/p>\n Aside from the magnificent Rodri\u2013Pedri duo, Barcelona also boast two of the world\u2019s best attacking midfielders in Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez and Dani Olmo. They also have a superstar in the making in Marc Bernal that will hugely benefit from learning behind Rodri, not to mention two elite talents\u2014when healthy\u2014in the currently injured duo of Gavi and Frenkie de Jong. It\u2019s no wonder Casad\u00f3 left. <\/p>\n Not far behind in the list of strengths are Barcelona\u2019s wingers. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are arguably the best winger partnership in the world, but Gordon and Adeyemi joining unlocks a world of possibilities Flick can have some fun with in attack. <\/p>\n Roster Weaknesses Barcelona didn\u2019t get their dream Robert Lewandowski replacement. | Alvaro Medranda\/Quality Sport Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Flick\u2019s attack might be potent, but the team\u2019s primary mission this summer was to replace the departing Lewandowski with a striker that boasted a similar pedigree to the Pole when he joined the club in 2022. Juli\u00e1n Alvarez was the one and only answer, but Atl\u00e9tico Madrid made sure to turn him into Barcelona\u2019s dream transfer that never was in a highly-publicized, drawn-out saga <\/a>that world soccer is probably incredibly happy is over\u2014for now. <\/p>\n Hamza Abdelkarim was the only natural center forward at the club when Torres left later in the summer. Jesus joining Barcelona on Deadline Day filled their need at the position, but the Brazilian isn\u2019t a world-class player at this point in his career and he\u2019s not a devastating finisher nor a physical presence inside the penalty area. The lack of a Lewandowski-type striker could become a problem.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, it soon became clear that Flick wasn\u2019t overly interested in investing heavily in Barcelona\u2019s defense. Jo\u00e3o Cancelo\u2019s permanent transfer after arriving on loan in January is the only defensive acquisition the Catalans made this summer. <\/p>\n Flick\u2019s decision is somewhat puzzling and undoubtedly risky. Barcelona\u2019s defense was exposed routinely last season and it led to their demise in the Champions League<\/a>. Barcelona enter 2026\u201327 with the exact same cast of characters in defense that failed to keep a clean sheet in Europe last season, helping set the record by a Spanish team for consecutive Champions League <\/a>matches without keeping a clean sheet (15).<\/p>\n Eric Garc\u00eda is now a right back according to Flick\u2019s own admission, meaning converted left back Gerard Mart\u00edn is fully established in the heart of defense as Pau Cubars\u00ed\u2019s partner. Only time will tell if the German\u2019s decision not to add an experienced, stout defender was the correct one. <\/p>\n Barcelona\u2019s Strongest Starting XI Barcelona have a stronger team on paper than they did a season ago. | FotMob<\/p>\n GK: Joan Garc\u00eda\u2014On the back of winning his first Zamora trophy in his debut season with Bar\u00e7a, Joan Garc\u00eda will look to build on what was a stellar 2025\u201326. Barcelona doesn\u2019t have to worry about the position for the foreseeable future. <\/p>\n RB: Eric Garc\u00eda\u2014Garc\u00eda has resurrected his Bar\u00e7a career under Flick, going from outcast to protagonist in 2025\u201326. Jules Kound\u00e9 has struggled dramatically and the right back position is now owned by the Spaniard. <\/p>\n CB: Pau Cubars\u00ed\u2014The generational talent showed exactly how dominant he can be during his flawless 2026 World Cup. Barcelona\u2019s defensive system is risky, but Cubars\u00ed reaching an extra level this year could singlehandedly fix most of the team\u2019s issues at the back. <\/p>\n CB: Gerard Mart\u00edn\u2014Nicknamed \u201cGerard Maldini,\u201d the former left back has Flick\u2019s full trust as Bar\u00e7a\u2019s left-footed center back. He won\u2019t steal any headlines, but Mart\u00edn has gone about his business and more often than not delivered since his transition. Andreas Christensen is his only major threat at the moment. <\/p>\n LB: Jo\u00e3o Cancelo\u2014Cancelo was stellar during his loan and took over from Alejandro Balde as first-choice left back. He\u2019s still ahead of Balde in the pecking order, but his biggest threat now comes in the form of the impressive Xavi Espart.<\/p>\n CM: Rodri\u2014Rodri will anchor Barcelona\u2019s midfield and offer the backline some much-needed protection. If injuries allow him to perform at his best, his addition alone could turn Bar\u00e7a into the best team in Europe. That\u2019s how big his influence can be. <\/p>\n CM: Pedri\u2014The brains behind Barcelona\u2019s entire operation. Flick\u2019s side plays at the rhythm Pedri dictates, acting as the cerebral hub of the team in midfield. There\u2019s no one better at his position when he\u2019s clicking. <\/p>\n RW: Lamine Yamal\u2014Entering the season at age 19, Lamine Yamal will try to collect the one major trophy he\u2019s missing: the Champions League. If he does, he\u2019ll only extend his resum\u00e9 as the greatest teenager the sport has ever seen. Oh, and a Ballon d\u2019Or trophy could be headed his way <\/a>as well. <\/p>\n AM: Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez\u2014Bruno Fernandes was the only attacking midfielder in Europe with more goal contributions than Ferm\u00edn\u2019s 30 a season ago. He\u2019s blossoming into a truly special talent and because of his unlucky absence from the World Cup, it feels like he\u2019s underrated currently. Olmo is a worthy competitor, but Ferm\u00edn is the starter as things stand; he has three goals in as many games already. <\/p>\n LW: Anthony Gordon\u2014The Englishman adds another dimension to Barcelona\u2019s attack acting essentially as a Raphinha-lite. His speed is a problem for opponents but he\u2019s also shown he\u2019s a very clever passer during his early Bar\u00e7a days<\/a>. His tireless pressing is of paramount importance in Flick\u2019s system. <\/p>\n ST: Raphinha\u2014Without a star striker reinforcement, it\u2019s Barcelona captain Raphinha who will lead the line. It\u2019s early days into his conversion as a No. 9, but his five goals in three games show he\u2019s capable of delivering the goods. If Flick turned Torres from a winger to a serviceable nine, why can\u2019t he do the same\u2014or better\u2014with Raphinha?<\/p>\n![\"Rodri\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m1417kx8kswtb582dq.jpg\" "\\"Rodri\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"Robert](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01knen80910sx9kwac15.jpg\" "\\"Robert")
<\/p>\n![\"Barcelona\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m1hmpqgbtfjmrxykaa.png\" "\\"Barcelona\u2019s")
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