Following Leo Messi's announcement in the exclusive interview he gave to SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona's sporting management has activated Plan B in its mission to build a competitive squad for the 2023/24 season. Action brings reaction. The return of the Argentine star was one of the priorities of Xavi Hernández and his coaching staff, but the wound still open from everything that happened in the summer of 2021 has made it impossible. It is time to look ahead and shape a new roadmap.

Barca's leaders are very clear about the positions to be reinforced in the coming months. Without having to do the 'juggling' that would have involved Messi's return, Barça will be able to focus all their efforts on finding a guaranteed pivot to take over from Sergio Busquets. Xavi Hernández already explained, in one of his last appearances of the season, the profile of the positional midfielder he requires: "The one who is the most complete and decisive, a player who wins duels, is intelligent on a tactical level and technically neat".

Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich are the two players who have been the most talked about recently, but their incorporations are currently considered very complicated at Barça. Although he is not Xavi's favourite, Rúben Neves has more options of joining Barça. That is, as we have reported in recent weeks, a bet from the club and president Joan Laporta.

One of the reasons that justified the interest in bringing Leo back was the lack of talent between the lines that the team has had this season when Pedri has not been at Xavi's disposal due to injury. The Catalan side need players who can make a difference in the inside areas, and that is why Deco, Mateu Alemany and company will also try to find an attacking midfielder or winger who can do that. Ilkay Gündogan, who is finishing his contract with Manchester City, could meet these requirements.

The eternal search for a right-back

In defence, in addition to the as yet unofficial arrival of Iñigo Martínez, the club are looking to bring in a right-back to allow Jules Koundé to return to his natural position, that of centre-back. The Frenchman, like Sergi Roberto or Ronald Araujo, can be a wildcard to use there on specific occasions, but if they want to be competitive at the highest European level, Barça must have a specialist on the right flank. Benjamin Pavard, Juan Foyth, Joao Cancelo, Vanderson... The 'dance' has already begun. As with the rest of the signings, the economic situation and the margin granted by 'fair play' will be decisive.

Finally, Xavi would also like to have a second striker, either to play behind Robert Lewandowski in some specific contexts or to act as a '9' when the Pole is unavailable due to injury or suspension. At the moment, however, it seems that this target is at the bottom of the list of preferences.