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112m euros spent and still no new Xavi

Barcelona are yet to get Xav's replacement after having spent 112 million euros on transfers

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Just 17 days after telling the world his news, the Catalan club won their second treble and their fifth Champions League, their last.

That season, the midfield was formed by Busquets-Iniesta-Rakitic, the same trio who played Sunday's game against Real Madrid. Since Xavi's departure, the club have spent a total of 112 million euros on midfielders, but none meets a profile similar to the player who has worn the Barcelona jersey on the most occasions.They have sounded out names like Verratti or Seri, but others have arrived.

The first was Arda Turan, for which Barcelona paid 34m euros, and he could leave this summer. Andre Gomes was signed for 35m euros the following season, a player with a profile more similar to that of Rakitic than that of Xavi; a so-called box to box player, similar to Paulinho, signed for 40m euros.

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Denis Suarez has been the closest to Xavi in terms of characteristics but at the moment he has not consolidated his place in the starting eleven.

XAVI'S CHOSEN ONE

The former Barcelona player spoke a few days ago in an interview for L'Équipe about who he would see governing the midfield of the team, and he pointed to Nice player Jean Michael Seri. "He's fantastic and with the DNA of Barcelona," Xavi noted.

However, after the arrival of Paulinho and with the negotiations for Coutinho and Dembele ongoing, the signing of the African is difficult.Xavi himself warned the board a few weeks ago. "In general, the club has fallen asleep," he continued. "We need to strengthen the academy and the model of the club." Those few words provoked a response from president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

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"The problem is Xavi, Iniesta, Messi ..." he said.For the moment, two years after Xavi last played at the Camp Nou, the club hasn't found the heir of the first team's brain, but nor do they seem to want to look for it.

Credit: Marca

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