Xavi announces Barcelona's January transfer priority

FT Desk

• 4 Nov 2022 14:42 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona weren't expected to go shopping mid-season after their Champions League group stage exit left them with a €20 million hole in their pockets…

Barca spent more than €150m this summer on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, but the outlay was predicated on making at least the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The early exit - with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan making it through from Group C - supposedly made player sales more likely, but now Gerard Pique has called time on his career, taking a significant salary off the wage bill, and Barca are set to go shopping to replace him.

READ: End of an era: Pique retires as Barcelona bid farewell to legendary defender

Centre-backs needed

"Knowing that Gerard is leaving, maybe we do need to evaluate the signing of a left sided centre-back," Barca coach Xavi confirmed ahead of the Blaugrana's meeting with Almeria on Saturday.

"Tomorrow, Pique's farewell from the Camp Nou is an extra motivation, we have to try to make it a great day for the club and especially for him, for everything he has given us. We lose one of the best central defenders in history of this sport."

Pique has fallen behind Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Kounde and Andreas Christensen in Barcelona's central defensive pecking order this season, but a long-term injury to Araujo means that with Pique's retirement, they are suddenly short in the position.

READ: Barcelona have agreement in principle with Pique successor

Inigo Martinez remains Xavi's first choice in the position. The Spain international is in the final year of his contract at Athletic Bilbao and could be acquired for a cut-price fee in January.

Pique will retire as one of the most decorated centre-backs in history, the winner of eight La Ligas and three Champions Leagues with Barcelona, as well as a World Cup and European Championship with Spain.

Pique is in Luis Enrique's 55-man long-list for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. Whether that competition will be his genuine swansong remains to be seen.