Busquets in plea to splash cash
WE MUST IMPROVE NO MATTER WHAT Mission Impossible for Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Sergio Busquets called on Barcelona to sign more players after the club’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup home defeat by Real Madrid on Sunday. The defensive midfielder believes his team need to reinforce if they are to wrestle power back from their deadly rivals Madrid, who won a Champions League and La Liga double last season.
Barcelona announced the signing of Paulinho on Monday but still have to replace Neymar, who joined Paris St Germain for a world record €222 million.
They have been linked with Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele, both of whom might have been helpful as Barcelona struggled to break Real down at the Camp Nou in the first leg.
Barcelona have been frustrated in the transfer market this summer, not only losing one of their best players but unable to sign their reported top targets either.
“We don’t need new signings because of the result, but because we always have to renew (our squad) and try to improve, no matter what,” Busquets told reporters.
“There’s no need for any excuses, now we have to draw our conclusions and look forward.
“We have the game at the Bernabeu on Wednesday (tonight). It’s almost mission impossible, it will be really difficult to turn it around but we will try.”
Paulinho will not be available to play in the second leg, in which Barcelona face an uphill struggle, needing to score at least three away goals to be in with a chance of winning the cup.
With Neymar gone, Gerard Deulofeu was picked to play on the left wing in the first leg, but he did not impress. He was frequently on a different wavelength to his team-mates.
Coach Ernesto Valverde is confident Barcelona will add to their squad before the transfer window shuts, although he prefers to focus on his current squad instead of speaking about potential signings.
Valverde told a news conference: “We’re Barca and we want to have the best team.
“Until the end of August, there’s time, although I’d like to focus on those I already have here, despite losing. And despite the fact that in this period there will surely be changes in the team.” –