Barcelona: who have they signed?
Ilkay Gundogan:
The ex-City player arrived on a free after winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup as the captain of the side led by Pep Guardiola.
A German international, Gundogan brings a wealth of experience to the midfield that has now lost talisman Sergio Busquets to the Miami revolution.
Gundogan featured 51 times for City last season as they broke record after record, scoring 11 goals and grabbing 7 assists in all competitions.
Oriol Romeu:
The midfielder arrived from Girona to plug the huge chasm left by Busquets, and many, it must be said, were not overwhelmed by the signing.
However, Oriol has indeed made his case to be a permanent starter, and has performed brilliantly in both of Barça’s games this season.
He has moved into the correct positions when needed and has also shown a capacity with the ball that justifies Xavi’s faith in the player.
The season is long and Romeu will have his ups and downs, but for now, the ex-Chelsea man is looking like a safe bet for the blaugrana.
Iñigo Martínez:
A Spain international, Iñigo arrived to Barcelona on a free transfer but his debut for the club will have to wait, given he has an injury known as Plantar fasciitis, a notoriously tough problem to treat.
The issue affects the sole of the foot close to the heel and the recovery time depends heavily on the player.
Some come back after no time at all while other players can be affected for months without a solution, which is why Barça have remained coy on a potential return date.
