Barca urged to indulge in some retail therapy
BARCELONA — Influential midfielder Sergio Busquets implored Barcelona to strengthen its squad after the Catalans lost 3-1 at home to rival Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.
Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month for a world-record $264 million fee.
However, Barca’s attempts to replace the Brazilian have so far fallen short.
“It is a question of renewal and always trying to get better. We have to (sign) whatever happens.” Busquets told Spanish TV station Telecinco.
Cristiano Ronaldo was at the heart of the action at Camp Nou despite only appearing as a second-half substitute, scoring a sensational goal before being sent off.
Lionel Messi’s penalty had canceled out Gerard Pique’s own goal early in the second half to give the visitor the lead.
Ronaldo then curled into the top corner 10 minutes from time, but the Portuguese was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration.
And that proved costly two minutes later when he was shown a second yellow card for diving when trying to win a penalty.
Despite its numerical disadvantage, Madrid extended its lead late on when Marco Asensio fired home in style from the edge of the box.
The second leg takes place at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, and 29-year-old Busquets, a Barca stalwart for the last nine years, said of his team’s task: “It will be difficult to turn it around.
“They have made it difficult, almost impossible.”
Without Neymar, Barca struggled to find its rhythm going forward as former Everton player Gerard Deulofeu failed to impress in the role alongside Messi and Luis Suarez up front.
“It’s a very adverse result and we have to accept that they are the favorites now,” said new Barca boss Ernesto Valverde as his reign started in disappointment.
“But we need to play the second game. Everything doesn’t just come to an end after one defeat.”
In the market
Barca has been heavily linked with moves for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund.
And after the disappointment of defeat in his first competitive game in charge, Valverde admitted Barca was keen to bring in new blood before the transfer window shuts.
“We are Barca and we want the best possible team,” Valverde said. “Until August 31, like every other team, the market is open to us.”
In contrast, Ronaldo’s 10th red card of his career was the only negative of the night for Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane as he closes in on a seventh trophy in less than two years in charge.
“What annoys me is the sending-off for Cristiano,” said the Frenchman. “Even if it is not a penalty, the card is harsh.”
Ronaldo could be slapped with more than a one-game suspension after lightly pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in his frustration at being dismissed.