Ernesto Valverde is a strange man. The former Athletic Bilbao boss is extremely hard to impress, but once you do, you have his unconditional trust in the darkest of days.
This is evidenced by Luis Suarez retaining his spot after a terrible stretch of games at the end of last season when he scored just five goals in 13 games.
The voodoo continued over the summer and the Uruguayan was able to net the ball just three times in the first eight games this season. Valverde’s trust in the forward was justified immediately with the Uruguayan scoring six goals in the next three games.
On the other hand, players like Denis Suarez, Paco Alcacer, Yerry Mina and more famously Ousmane Dembele have failed to win Txingurri over. The fact that Valverde prefers a small squad further calls for the need for Barcelona to offload some of the players. We take a look at some of the payers who need to leave.
Denis Suarez
Denis Suarez
Suarez has to be the first on the list of players who need to search for a new club. Arthur Melo has cemented his place in the starting line-up alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic. Aleix Vidal and Rafinha are also above Suarez in the pecking order should rotation in the midfield be considered.
This season, Valverde has shown that he’d even prefer playing Sergi Roberto in midfield over Suarez.
The Spaniard is better off searching for potential suitors in the winter transfer window.
Rafinha Alcantara
Rafinha Alcantara
One of the most technical players in the squad, Rafinha has failed to catch a break at his childhood club. The versatile midfielder who can even function as a winger has had his fair share of trouble with injuries which denied him a full-fledged career at Barcelona.
The Brazilian can be a crucial fringe player for the Catalan club but he deserves to be a starter for a top European club. Rafinha had a good loan stint with Inter but the Milan side refused to buy him, a decision which probably did not go down well.
Jasper Cillissen
Jasper Cillissen
Like Rafinha, Cillissen is better off looking for potential suitors mainly because the player is too good to be a second choice.
With the Netherlands showing solid form in the Nations League, it’s safe to say that the next couple of years will be extremely crucial for the Dutchman’s resurgence.
Cillissen should consider switching to a top club where he can enjoy playing time in order to develop for club and country and leave the spot of back-up keeper vacant for Jokin Ezkieta and Inaki Pena.
Andre Gomes and Douglas
Andre Gomes
Gomes is currently plying his trade for Everton after leaving the Catalan side on a loan deal. The Portuguese had a slow start to life at Goodison Park but has picked up well in the last few games.
The loan deal will be made permanent in all probability. But if the clubs fail to reach an agreement, Gomes must search for new employers. With all the quality on the Barcelona bench, the 25-year-old can’t be hopeful of a future at the club.
