Barcelona‘s financial and financial fair play issues have restricted the club from buying players in the last few transfer windows. They were unable to hold their best player, Lionel Messi, and Xavi had to cope with a very young team when he took charge. After their LaLiga success in 2022–23, a lot of players were attracted to the club. However, wages remained an issue, and Barcelona were unable to afford most of their transfer targets.
Still, at the end of the summer transfer window, the Spanish champions managed to bring in two big names in Portuguese football. Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo completed their loan moves and also made their debuts against Osasuna before the September international break. The former league winners bring a lot of experience to this pretty young side. Let’s take a look at why these two deals were necessary for Xavi and his men to defend the title.
Cancelo’s versatility
Joao Cancelo left Manchester City to join Barcelona in 2023. After falling out with Pep last season, he spent the second half on loan at Bayern Munich. Barcelona were unable to pay the asking price and decided to buy him on loan.
A versatile full-back who can play on either flank will be a huge asset for Xavi. He is without a natural right-back, and the departure of Alba in the summer meant that the team lacked experience in these positions.
The above viz shows how much Cancelo likes to make progress with the ball. He completed nearly 51% of his dribbles and made around four progressive runs per 90 minutes. The 29-year-old always looks to stay on the creative side.
The end product is what Xavi will demand from his new full-back. Cancelo provided five assists combined in the Bundesliga and the Premier League. He also found the back of the net three times. The above viz shows 21 shot assists provided by the player. Most of these were dangerous passes delivered into the 18-yard box. A player like Robert Lewandowski will look to pounce on such opportunities inside the penalty box.
Felix’s goal threat
Ousmane Dembele’s departure was a huge setback for Xavi. He was looking for a replacement, and Barcelona decided to take Joao Felix on loan. The Portuguese spent the second half of the 2022–23 season on loan at Chelsea and was looking for an exit from Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona needed more options in goal-scoring areas, and Felix is the one who can lessen the burden on Lewandowski. Last season, he scored four goals each in La Liga and the Premier League.
At Atletico Madrid, the player averaged 3.2 shots per 90 minutes and had a 50% accuracy rate. He often found space inside the penalty box and managed to beat the goalkeeper. In the Premier League, Felix tried his chance to score with long-range efforts. Chelsea were struggling, and he failed to find his rhythm at the London-based club. His shot average was around 3.9, but the accuracy rate dropped to 33.33%.
Joao Felix is likely to play on the left side of the attack for Barcelona. He is familiar with this position and made some progressive runs from the left flank in 2022–23. The 23-year-old forward averaged more than two progressive runs per 90 minutes, with most of them ending on the edge of the penalty box. His dribbling success rate was around 50% throughout the season.
At the biggest stage (Champions League)
Joao Felix made headlines in the Champions League, and Joao Cancelo has been playing with Europe’s best for quite some time. These players will add a lot of experience to this young side in such a big competition.
Felix has the ability to win free kicks in dangerous areas. In the nine UEFA Champions League appearances made by the player in 2022–23, he won 16 fouls. The player was unable to score or create a goal. However, he has seven UCL goals and will look to add more when he steps on the field in a Barcelona shirt.
Joao Cancelo provided three assists in the UCL 2022–23 campaign. His creativity is what Barcelona fans will be waiting to see on the big stage. The player can be used on either flank and will be a huge asset for the manager.
The addition of these two big names is positive news for the manager and the club. They can win matches and have a strong mentality once they step on the field. Both players were also looking forward to joining the Spanish club and now have the chance to win the hearts of the supporters.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
