Strategic plan or real need?

What vice-president Bartomeu said regarding Neymar, came as a shock to many. And that is because on one hand it is clear that the Brazilian is not yet ready to set foot on Europe and on the other, Tito Vilanova made clear that for the time being, the team will not turn to such a player. Everyone assumed that the main target is a player who can equally play as a central defender and defensive midfielder, with Xavi Martinez fitting perfectly to that profile. Let’s not forget that also the young and talented Basque was portrayed by the press as Tito’ s one and only desire. Then, what was that forced Bartomeu to say what he said?

According to my opinion, two are the main reasons. Either we are talking about a strategic plan to focus interest somewhere else or there is a real and existing problem in the front line that became apparent now. If the first scenario is the case, then Athletic Bilbao will HAVE TO sit and discuss Barca’s proposition of 26 million euros. That is if the Basque team wants to make money from Martinez. The sum of 40 million demanded by his club, becomes even more exorbitant taken into consideration how he performed with the Olympic Team and against Radamel Falcao, in  the Europa League final. Personally, I am not convinced that he is the type of defender we need, but I am sure Tito knows better.

But if that is not the case, let’s see what might be hidden behind Bartomeu’s words. It is for a fact that last year the team had a big problem in attack. With Villa, Pedro, Alexis, Afellay and Boyan, more or less out of the picture for diverse reasons, Guardiola had to make do with players from the second team. Cuenca and Tello, showed up with relatively good results and prospects. With Bojan gone to Italy, the rest seems history. Villa will be back, so will Alexis, Pedro and Afellay. Of course if we take a closer look on the situation, we will see that only the Asturian is the most important asset of the season. Alexis’s position is on the left or right wing of the front line, we still have no idea on what the future holds for Afellay and no one knows for sure if Pedro will be the player that surprised the whole world a few years ago.

So, we are left with David… The player who can mark a huge difference IF healthy and sound. Everyone was expecting him eagerly to return for preseason, but the doctors warned that he would not be completely ready before the passing of two months. And even if these two months are completed, he will definitely need some time more to get back on track, won’t he? Can the team afford to wait for him? And even when he will be ready in a theoretical level, will he be the smooth “killer” we all know and admire? The answers to all these questions, are unknown so far…

Reasonably, if Neymar is already spoken for since winter if we believe the press, it is absolutely normal that the team will want him to come…. yesterday. I have no reason to believe that the Brazilian matures and progresses by staying in Santos and the Brazilian championship. If he can be considered as one more of Barca’s players, the team can start now to incorporate him to her style and mentality and with no much pressure and hastiness. The only thing we can say for certain, is that if Neymar is to come, there will be definite impacts on the future of Villa, Pedro, Cuenca and Tello.

In any case, by this article I tried to interpret what Bartomeu said on Neymar and not to give my personal opinion regarding the Brazilian striker. What will the result be, we will learn in a month or so. Until then let us focus on the next friendly matches, that will definitely offer us a clearer image on Tito’s Barca.