The survivors from the start of the Xavi era
A year and a half after the arrival of Xavi Hernandez on the bench at the Spotify Camp Nou, there has been an endless shuffling of names in the first team squad. With three transfer windows already completed and the fourth one in full swing, the dressing room will continue to be filled with more and more new players, with fewer and fewer survivors left.
Since he took over from Ronald Koeman as coach in November 2021, he has coached 43 players in the first team, plus players from the reserve team. Of those who took part in the first week of training, only eleven players remain in the squad: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Araujo, Eric Garcia, De Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Dembélé, Iñaki Peña and Balde - the latter two with Barça Atletic at the time.
The team was reinforced in the winter market with four additions: Dani Alves, Ferran Torres, Adama Traoré and Aubameyang; of which only the winger from Foios remains. In the summer there were also many movements, with Xavi Hernandez at the helm.
In terms of departures, with Xavi in the dugout, there have been 22. Here is the full list: Neto, Dest, Dani Alves, Bellerín, Piqué, Lenglet, Mingueza, Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Nico, Pjanic, Riqui Puig, Coutinho, Collado, Abde, Adama, Demir, Memphis, Aubameyang, Braithwaite, Luuk de Jong and Jutglà. Among them, there are some on loan, but the only ones with options to return are Nico and Abde, as well as Auba, as a new transfer.
As we said, the list of survivors since the beginning of Xavi's time as Barça coach consists of eleven players: a quarter of the total number of players coached. However, not all of them have their continuity assured for the new season. The financial situation is still delicate and the club needs to make some departures.
Three of them could pack their bags this summer. We are referring to Eric Garcia, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele. The centre-back has been reduced to a secondary role and the club is not closing the door on a possible departure. As for the two strikers, the youth academy player is the one who is most likely to end his time as a cule, despite his reluctance. As far as the Frenchman is concerned, all parties want him to stay, but first his contract, which expires in 2024, must be renewed.
