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How did Barcelona fare in the summer transfer window?

By Chiranjib Ghosh

Barcelona's French technical secretary Eric Abidal uses his mobile as he arrives to attend a training session at the FC Barcelona's Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, on August 24, 2018 (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAU BARRENA/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's French technical secretary Eric Abidal uses his mobile as he arrives to attend a training session at the FC Barcelona's Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, on August 24, 2018 (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAU BARRENA/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Éric Abidal proved everyone wrong with his performance

Éric Abidal has successfully alleviated Barcelona of its reputation of being a chaotic player on the transfer market, which the club had acquired during Robert Fernández’s tenure as technical secretary, when he committed huge blunders.

Fernández signed players like Arda Turan, Paco Alcácer, Aleix Vidal and Jérémy Mathieu, who have left the club and are going to leave the club, with the club incurring a loss. He also signed players who never had any sort of impact, including André Gomes.

Except for Neymar’s involuntary sale, Fernández could bring in just €90 million in transfer fees, failing to negotiate a permanent move for deadweights Douglas and Turan. He also overpaid for Ousmane Dembélé. Éric Abidal has outdone his predecessor on all counts.

In his first ever transfer window, Abidal managed to offload 8 players, none of whom were important members of the squad, with the possible exception of Lucas Digne. Abidal has managed to bring in €82 million in transfer fees, coming close to Robert Fernández’s total.

Next summer, the club might be getting €75 million more, with loan moves for Paulinho and Alcácer, with an option to buy for Guangzhou Evergrande and Borussia Dortmund. Needless to say, Éric Abidal is a negotiator of the highest order.

But his signings have also been very prudent, again, unlike his predeccesor’s. Abidal has brought in 3 players who have the potential to become world-class players, and who become a part of the first-team in the coming years, Arthur Melo, Malcom and Clément Lenglet.

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While the Frenchman may have replaced the 29-year old Paulinho with Arturo Vidal, the Chilean is a much better player than his South American counterpart, despite being 2 years older. Abidal has also recognised Munir’s talent, and wants to award him a new contract.

Abidal also managed to convince Ivan Rakitić to reject an offer from Paris Saint-Germain, unlike Robert Fernández, who couldn’t keep hold of Neymar, although there is a difference. Neymar sees football as a business, while Rakitić is committed to the sport.

Abidal should also be given credit for handling the non-EU players situation with ease, especially considering that the situation was once looking precarious. He offloaded three non-EU players, Douglas, Yerry Mina and Marlon.

Ernesto Valverde is a head coach who is reluctant to get involved in any transfer business, and he prefers to train the team given to him by the club leadership. This season, the Basque has been given a potential treble-winning squad by Éric Abidal.

Next. Marc Cucurella joins Eibar on loan. dark

The summer has been a highly successful one, but it remains to be seen whether Ernesto Valverde can and build on it deliver the treble at the end of the season.