Barcelona’s midfielder Sergio Busquets sits before giving a press conference at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on August 15, 2017, on the eve of the Spanish Supercup second leg football match Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona.<br />LLUIS GENE / AFP
Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets reiterated his call for the
club’s board to strengthen in the transfer market on Tuesday, but warned
replacing the departed Neymar will be almost impossible.
The Brazilian’s absence was noticeable as Barca fell to a 3-1 Spanish
Super Cup, first leg defeat at home to Real Madrid in the Catalans
first game since Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a world record
222 million euro fee ($262 million).
“It is clear that with Neymar’s departure, the team has lost out
offensively,” said Busquets ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at Madrid’s
Santiago Bernabeu (kick off 21:00 GMT).
“It’s obvious that you realise what kind of player Ney is.”
Busquets said in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s defeat that
Barca had to sign after initial bids to land Liverpool’s Philippe
Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund were rejected last
week.
However, the Spanish international believes the only way to move on
from Neymar’s decision to jump ship to the French giants is for the
Barca squad to be improved overall rather than finding a like-for-like
replacement.
“Those that come in will be welcomed. With Neymar’s departure there
is a lack of attacking players, but as I said before getting better
means improving in all positions and all aspects.
“Hopefully as many players of the highest quality can come in. “There
is only one Neymar and now that he is no longer with us we need to look
forward and try to improve as a team.”
Barca made Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho their first
signing since Neymar’s departure from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande
for 40 million euros on Monday.
And despite widespread scepticism over his ability to make an impact
in Spain after a disappointing spell at Tottenham Hotspur before his
move to China, Barca boss Ernesto Valverde insisted Paulinho will bring a
different dimension to the Barca midfield.
“From a physical point of view he is a strong player that can offer
us versatility,” said Valverde. “There isn’t another player of his type
in the team.”
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