Barca bouncing back

Transfers could bring Catalan club in from wilderness

A few months ago, Barcelona was a club in utter crisis after back-to-back disappointing campaigns, and club presidential candidate Joan Laporta looked as likely a winner as Dennis Kucinich.

Things can change very quickly in this game. Laporta’s improbable promise of bringing David Beckham to the Camp Nou was never fulfilled, but it was enough to get the smooth-talking lawyer elected.

After Beckham went up in smoke, many feared Laporta would be unable to cope, but the club responded well, picking up the reliable goalkeeper it hasn’t had since the early days of Andoni Zubizarreta as well as three of the most highly rated rising stars on the market: Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldinho.

With moody striker Patrick Kluivert signed to a new deal and Frank Rijkaard at the helm, all of a sudden this Barca side looks capable of turning the corner, though there is still work to be done.

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The choice of Rijkaard -- recommended by Johan Cruyff, whose ghost still haunts the Camp Nou -- is bound to pay dividends. Harshly and somewhat unfairly criticized after Holland’s Euro 2000 semifinal exit, he is nonetheless one of the smartest young managers in the game.

Rijkaard grew up in the game -- his father was a gifted professional -- and his tactical mind was formed both by the open, attacking style of the Dutch and the tighter, more conservative credo of Serie A. His age and pedigree should also help him connect with Barcelona’s young backbone: the three new singings plus Javier Saviola, Thiago Motta and Carles Puyol.

Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber is a tremendous signing. He’s a natural leader between the sticks, a man who can absorb pressure and give his back four confidence. He’ll benefit from the presence of the Marquz-Puyol duo in front of him. The Mexican central defender is strong in the air and comfortable on the ball and appears to be the ideal complement for Puyol.

Ronaldinho, snatched from under the nose of Manchester United (who badly botched the negotiations with Paris St. Germain), was arguably the best player -- along with Michael Ballack -- outside Europe’s top three leagues, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in. Rijkaard can either play him in the hole behind Saviola and Kluivert or pair him up front with the Dutchman.

Both combinations could work, though the former would probably force Barca to leave out winger Marc Overmars, and that’s something Rijkaard would rather not do. It will be important for Barca fans to remember that Ronaldinho is still far from fulfilling his potential and he will need time to grow. He’ll also need to cut down on his “activities” off-the-pitch. Barcelona is the kind of town where a rich, young footballer can get easily distracted.

Perhaps the most exciting new face down the road could be Quaresma.

He has been compared to Luis Figo, and while he lacks Figo’s explosive runs, he is a gifted, instinctive footballer who is eager to learn and has a good head on his shoulders. Together with Overmars, Luis Enrique and Luis Garcia (back after a fine season at Atletico Madrid), he gives Rijkaard four solid wide options, something of a luxury in the modern game.

Expect another reinforcement, most probably at the back. There is no natural left back apart from youngster Fernando Navarro and, unless Patrik Andersson returns to the level he was at with Bayern Munich, the center could use some cover as well. Also, the club needs to find a home for Juan Roman Riquelme, the most egregious bust last season.

But the sense is nevertheless that Barcelona, after years in the wilderness, is finally back on the right track. Not qualifying for the Champions League may be a blessing in disguise, as it will allow Rijkaard’s troops to focus on La Liga and grow gradually, away from the big stage.

Real Madrid may be “Los Galacticos,” but, as any good Barca fan can tell you, it has been 13 years since Real won the Spanish title in an even-numbered year. Barca’s resurgence may come sooner than you think.

Good Week/Bad Week

Good week: For Damien Duff, who signed a lucrative five-year deal with Chelsea following his US$30 million move from Blackburn Rovers. The transfer fee looks very steep, especially in this market, and Duff will have a lot of expectations to live up to; but, on the other hand, he is set for life.

Bad week: For Manchester United, which lost out on Ronaldinho and is dealing with good dose of internal tension after the club’s decision to place responsibility for transfers entirely in the hands of chief executive Peter Kenyon. Kenyon screwed up badly on the Ronaldinho deal, which no doubt annoyed Sir Alex Ferguson. Time to regroup.

Good week: For Nigeria, who attracted a wide range of top applicants for the national team head coaching job in the African Nations’ Cup. Among those who have applied for the job are former Turkey boss Mustafa Denizli and former Belgium coach George Leekens. High-profile names such as these are just what the doctor ordered for the talented but underachieving Super Eagles.

Bad week: For Gabriel Milito, who was rejected by Real Madrid due to an old knee injury when his transfer looked all but sealed. The young Argentine defender was snapped up by Zaragoza in a US$3.5 million move however, so he’ll have plenty of chances to get his revenge.

 

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