It has been assumed by most of the football media in Spain that Barça are very keen to sign a right full back. It is certainly true that the club has not had a top class, reliable attacking right full back since Dani Alves left in 2016. It may not be just a coincidence that since then the club has won nothing in Europe. So signing a top class, reliable right back would seem to make excellent sense.
However, there are a couple of major problems with this. The first is that players that meet the requirement – top class, reliable etc – are in short supply and would cost a fortune. Money that Barça might be better spending on strengthening other positions – a replacement for Busquets for example. The second issue is that, no doubt in part at least, to the lack of a reliable right back Xavi did change the format of the team for most of this year. At least until the league was won, when injury and a rest period for Pedri, made this new system unviable. This new approach was to play with a back three, four midfielders and three attackers, one of whom was Alejandro Balde. This system worked well and was in my view, crucial In winning the league.
So, if Xavi continues with this approach there is no need for a right back at all. You would only need a new right back if you revert to the old, traditional system with two centre backs, one pivot, two creative midfielders, supported by the two attacking or overlapping full backs and three attackers. However doing this would have some serious implications for others in the team and in particular Frankie de Jong.
Barça, pretty much always, like to play with two central creative midfielders – interiors as they are known in Spain. Pedri and Gavi have been the first choice for these positions and they are really the only players for this role. However, with the arrival of İlkay Gündoğan, this has changed, very much to the benefit of the team. İlkay Gündoğan is masterful player for this position and with his experience at Man City will quickly become a first choice. Both Pedri and Gavi will learn a lot from İlkay Gündoğan and will now get the rest that they need at their age.
So far so good, however this raises the question of where will Frankie de Jong fit into this. With three top class creative midfielders, he is most unlikely to play in that position. He has to then play as either the sole pivot, replacing Busquets in that role, or as a partner to a new pivot. The sole pivot role is not de Jong’s best role. He is better suited to a freer role, where he can move about the pitch as and where needed. This is what worked well for the team when Busquets and de Jong played together behind and supporting the two creative midfielders. Much as John Stones does at City alongside Rodri.
Finding a top class, reliable pivot to replace Busquets will not be easy and most important is most unlikely to be cheap. Which brings me back to the original question – does Barça need a right back? For me the answer is no. The team needs a really good pivot, to provide the positional security in front of the back three, and to get the best out of Frankie De Jong. Better to spend good money on this than on a right back. Time will tell.
Alister Rutherford 