Zenith wrote:[The Athletic] Summer 2014 was the last time Barca’s first XI was seriously strengthened, with €165 million spent on likes of Suarez, ter Stegen and Rakitic. Since then Barca have spent more than €800 million on new players, without even one of them establishing themselves as a senior team leader.
https://theathletic.co.uk/1892919/2020/ ... id-setien/
Article summary:"Summer 2014 was the last time that Barca’s first XI was seriously strengthened. In that window €165 million was spent and top-quality arrivals Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ivan Rakitic settled in quickly, and improved key areas of the team.
Since then Barca have spent more than €800 million on new players, without even one of them establishing themselves as a senior team leader. The current team’s key figures were all already at the club when they won that treble in 2015 but that outfield spine of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Suarez are all into their 30s now.
In summer 2016 they spent €125 million on Andre Gomes, Paco Alcacer, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne, Jasper Cillessen and Denis Suarez.
Twelve months later Neymar pushed through his exit to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million. Barca’s spend following that was €375 million on Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Nelson Semedo, Yerry Mina, Gerard Deulofeu and Marlon.
The 2018-19 season involved €129 million being spent on new players — including Malcom, Clement Lenglet, Arthur, Arturo Vidal and Jeison Murillo (on loan with an option to buy).
This season there has been €273 million invested — on Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Martin Braithwaite, Neto, Junior Firpo, Emerson and Marc Cucurella.
So much money has been spent, but not even one of these 30+ new signings has been a complete success. It all points to deep structural problems at the club, and continuing mismanagement by the current board."
Doesn't reflect good upon Raúl who, in his role as DoF, oversaw Barcelona's transfer activity until 2018.
Jesus wept. Says everything you need to know about Raul and his transfer approach.