Many consider Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona to be completely synonymous with one another. It becomes close to impossible to refer to one without thinking about or having to mention the other as well. Unfortunately, that love story between the club from Barcelona and the boy from Rosario ended on a rather sour note.
Despite spending around almost two decades at the Catalan club, Lionel Messi ultimately left in 2021 due to the financial limitations of FC Barcelona and all the drama that came along with it. However, for many around the world, it was Messi who defined Barça both as the club’s main face but also as their biggest influence on the pitch.
To replace a footballer who has played 778 games for FC Barcelona and scored 672 goals for the club while also providing 303 assists is a task that would normally be considered impossible. In fact, many would outright claim that it would be even foolish to try to replace the 8-time Ballon D’or winner.
Yet, as Mundo Deportivo highlights, that has not seemed to stop Barcelona president Joan Laporta and it has quite clearly been his obsession ever since he let the Argentine forward leave the club. Across the last few years since he returned as club president in 2021, there has been one category of players that he has made more signings for than any other role on the field.
Out of the 22 players that he has signed at the club, 12 have been forwards as per MD. This includes the likes of Luuk de Jong, Adama Traore, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Vitor Roque, Joao Felix, Pau Victor, and Dani Olmo. The main aim behind this strategy of signing these forwards was to constantly ensure that the squad was full of players who could make a difference in the final third.
While some of these players have admittedly been loan deals while others have been big-money moves, the obsession to never let Barcelona feel the goalscoring and creative void left behind by Messi remains clear as day. Laporta has even gone out of his way to bring in superstars like Lewandowski and Olmo to ensure that the team feels well-equipped.
However, if there is one thing about Laporta’s reign that is now being put under question, it is his transparency and the rather contradictory statements that he sometimes gives. One such recent instance would be the departure of Ilkay Gundogan, as the player’s reason behind his departure differs from the version that the president provided.
Ultimately, it is a tenure that undoubtedly has divided opinions and perspectives of it. Yet, at least the intention to make sure Barcelona remains an offensively-gifted team remains there. Only time will ultimately tell if the results and outputs are just as convincing and meaningful as what Messi gifted to the club.
