Tier List: Ranking every single player from the FC Barcelona Squad

Barcelona have had an underwhelming transfer window to say the least. The squad has quite certainly been weakened but as culers we should still be happy that we haven’t sacrificed our future with the likes of Pedri, Ansu Fati and Frenkie De Jong not being seen as potential sales to secure the club financially. I’m pretty sure you lot have had enough with transfer window reviews and analysis, so let’s do something different, a squad tier list ranking every single Barcelona player included in the squad.

Find a New Club

I don’t mean to disrespect Umtiti here, but it’s clear he has no place in this squad. With Pique, Garcia, Araujo, Lenglet and Mingueza all part of the first team, I don’t see Umtiti getting many minutes this season. But I do feel bad for him. He reportedly broke down in tears during a meeting with Laporta when accused of picking up a large wage despite hardly featuring. Umtiti did blame the club’s medical staff as he claimed to have sort out treatment at his own expense. The medical team coming under fire is not a new thing, with Frenkie De Jong previously hitting out at them as well. I seriously condemn the whistles as well, Umtiti has a contract and he has all the right to exercise it, or he can take the Pjanic route of taking a pay cut and trying to revive his career by playing regular football.

Squad Player

With Aguero, Memphis, Ansu Fati, Demir and Dembele at the club, Luuk De Jong and Braithwaite will find minutes hard to come. Although with a shortage of forwards at the start of the season they will have time to impress Ronald Koeman. Luuk De Jong has worked with Koeman before and Koeman does seem to rate Braithwaite due to his work ethic. In terms of the Luuk De Jong transfer, I don’t really mind. It’s just a one year loan deal and was done in desperation because of Koeman’s reluctance for a centre forward. I don’t expect him to bring us goals or any productivity. His stats last season were underwhelming as well, only 4 goals in La Liga and he didn’t contribute much in a creative way or by working hard. It has to be said he would be a more direct option for Barcelona at the end of games. Koeman tends to throw out a number of forwards and Luuk De Jong is quite good in the air winning 5 aerial duels per 90 at a good rate of 54%. Next up, it’s Oscar Mingueza and he will be, well the epitome of a squad player. With a plethora of options at centre back I don’t expect Mingueza to get many minutes unless Koeman switches to a three at the back or there is an unexpected injury. Mingueza might get minutes often at right back, as Dest might cover for Alba at times at left back and Koeman has been playing Roberto in midfield off late. Mingueza will still be an important part of the Barcelona squad. Inaki Pena is the next player on the squad player list and with Neto and Ter Stegen ahead of him, he isn’t getting many minutes, is he?

Rotation

This tier, in my opinion is the most crucial this season. With 9 players available for rotation, Koeman needs to make right use of these players and ensure that the starting XI is not burned out. Neto will be the back up option for Ter Stegen, no two ways about it. At the back, it should be Garcia, Pique and Lenglet fighting for the centre back spot. In midfield, Koeman has the option to play Roberto and Puig, while Gavi and Nico Gonzalez will certainly get minutes off the bench as two of the four players who will be eligible to play for Barcelona despite being registered with the youth team. Koeman needs to ensure that Busquets, De Jong and Pedri are getting frequent rest to be ready for the important games. Coutinho and Demir are also options for Koeman who can play in the midfield as well as in the forward line. Although culers do not rate Coutinho all that much now, Koeman has insisted that Coutinho will have a place in the squad and at the start of the last season we saw him getting a lot of minutes. For Demir, we need to avoid creating another Trincao situation, we need to see him get minutes and excel and we can not let such a talent get wasted. Aguero, is a difficult one, with him out for about 10 weeks with an injury before even playing a game. Koeman would want to rely on Aguero as he is the prototype number 9 that Koeman wants. Getting 20-25 appearances out of Aguero might be the goal at this point. 

Starting XI

This category really is pretty straightforward. I have already iterated upon my strongest starting XI for the season and have also updated it after the end of the summer transfer window as I initially had Griezmann and Emerson in my starting lineup (😬), so do go check out my updated strongest lineup for the season. Araujo as I have said, is certainly our best centre back in my opinion and has to solidify his spot at the back. At full back with Emerson gone and no left back cover, Dest and Alba should be the starters. In midfield, Busquets is quite possibly the only option for defensive midfield and more on his partners in just a bit. In the frontline, with Messi gone, I expected Griezmann to step up and prove the doubters wrong, but unfortunately he has left the club and no hard feelings I suppose as we did desperately need to balance the books and his wages were unsustainable. So with Griezmann going to Atletico Madrid on deadline day, the mantle does fall on Memphis Depay to be Barcelona’s talisman up front alongside a certain new Barcelona No. 10. On the right wing, Dembele, when fit would be a starter for me providing raw pace and width for Barcelona. 

Untouchable 

Ansu Fati. Pedri. Frenkie De Jong. The future and present of Barcelona is in safe hands. Despite the financial and emotional hardships that the club is facing, the youth we possess gives us hope. Front and center of the youth are these three players. Although Frenkie De Jong has evolved into much more of a leader and is certainly an epitome of the Barcelona system. Pedri, tireless and hardworking had exploded onto the scene last season. With each passing match, we are left in awe at what this young kid brings to the team. However the one we have most faith in is the prodigal son, Ansu Fati. Despite the injury, Fati is still brimming with confidence, taking up the huge responsibility of the No.10 shirt without any hesitation. Hopefully, Ansu Fati can come back from his injury and take on the pressure of the No.10 to exceed all expectations. These three excellent players surely will be the first names on the team sheet for several years to come.

There you have it, every single player from the FC Barcelona Squad ranked. Comment down below what changes you would make to the tier list, share the content and why not check out the blog post on the Barcelona Femení and Barça B, if you haven't already. Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you back soon and remember its more than a blog.