Barcelona had been hopeful of bolstering their squad for the upcoming Champions League clash with Napoli, but it seems Xavi Hernandez will have to rely on a 35-year-old Robert Lewandowski and a 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, along with Raphinha.
Ferran Torres and Joao Felix have both been sidelined within a short span, facing weeks out due to injuries. Diario AS reported that their chances of returning for the Napoli game are diminishing.
While Felix was considered more likely to recover from his ankle sprain, discussions about a pain-relieving injection at Can Barca have been dismissed. Torres' hamstring tear will also keep him out. However, neither are definitively ruled out for the following weekend's clash against Getafe.
Xavi will have some reinforcements, with Sergi Roberto and Oriol Romeu expected to return by next Wednesday. They are unlikely to start, given the stiff competition in midfield within the Barcelona squad.
In attacking positions, Brazilian winger Raphinha is gradually returning from his own hamstring issue, having played some minutes against Granada on Sunday. He operated on the left, even filling in as a makeshift left-back, indicating Xavi might deploy him in that role against Napoli.
Yamal currently stands out as their most potent player, and both he and Raphinha occupy the same position. However, Xavi might opt for a fourth midfielder instead of deploying one of them out of position.
Remember, things aren't going too well for Xavi as he has already announced that he will step down as a coach once the season ends.
Additionally, they have also been struggling off the field to manage and balance their finances and the option of selling some high earners in the summer window can be activated.
Earlier, Esport3 asserted that currently, only four players, namely, Gavi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Ronald Araujo, are absolutely untouchable and not for sale in the squad.
Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong is no longer seen as indispensable within the team. The Dutch international commands the highest salary in the squad and anticipates even higher earnings next season. Consequently, the club is open to entertaining significant offers for him.