30 May 2011 15:10:00
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ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward
“Perfection does not exist, but you have to look for it anyway,” Pep Guardiola once said. Most of the people who watched Barcelona destroy Manchester United in Saturday night’s Champions League final would agree that the Catalans came pretty close to producing a perfect performance at Wembley. So how can they improve on that?
Once the celebrations have ended and the euphoria has died down, Barca’s coaching staff will set about bringing in players to make the team even better. It’s an unenviable task; how to improve on near perfection, avoid upsetting the balance of the side and at the same time manage to keep all of the players happy.
Here we take a look at the most likely arrivals for next season and the role they could play in Barca’s side for 2011-12.
 Read more on Fabregas |
Also interested: Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester City |
Fabregas has been constantly linked with a move to Barcelona over the last few seasons, but this time it looks as if it may finally happen. The midfielder is unhappy at Arsenal and is desperate to move back to his hometown club, where he would link up with good friends Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol. A move this summer may also be Fabregas’ last chance of playing under boyhood idol Guardiola.
Fabregas looks to be Xavi’s natural successor in the middle of the park, but Guardiola may struggle to accommodate both players in his starting line-up next season. It would be impossible to drop either Xavi or Andres Iniesta, while Sergio Busquets plays more of a defensive role.
That said, Barca’s best players didn’t get enough rest this season and the Catalans were lucky to avoid major injuries in midfield and attack. Fabregas’ signing would keep the other midfielders fresh and allow Xavi some much-needed rest time as he approaches the end of his career.
 Read more on Rossi |
Also interested: Tottenham |
Rossi has blossomed this season at Villarreal and has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks. The striker admits he is flattered by Barca’s interest and looks increasingly likely to end up playing at Camp Nou next term.
The New Jersey-born striker would give Barca good options in attack. He could adapt to any of the three forward positions, play behind another striker or even as an attacking midfielder. Guardiola loves players who will give him more options tactically and Rossi fits the bill.
The only problem, as with Fabregas, is how to fit all of these top players into the starting XI. With Barca playing in six different competitions next season, however, there should be plenty of opportunities for everyone.
 Read more on Pastore |
Also interested: Juventus, Milan, Roma |
Pastore is a huge talent and the young Argentine forward is set to leave Palermo in search of bigger things next season. An attacking midfielder with sublime skills, ‘El Flaco’ has been linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as a host of top clubs in Serie A.
Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini claims Lionel Messi has asked Barca to sign his compatriot, but Pastore won’t come cheap and while their financial problems persist, the Catalans are unlikely to be able to afford three big summer signings.
However, the Argentine represents an excellent option for Barca’s problematic left-forward position. His signing would allow David Villa to start in his preferred central position and Messi to revert to the right, with all three interchanging positions. It could be devastating, although Rossi’s greater flexibility and experience in Spanish football means he is more likely to sign.
 Read more on Jose Angel |
Also interested: Atletico Madrid, Valencia |
Linked just last week for the first time, full-back Jose Angel looks likely to be become Barcelona’s first summer signing. The Sporting Gijon left-back is a solid defender and at just 21 will be content with a limited role as he continues his development.
With three other left-backs – Eric Abidal, Maxwell and Adriano – already at the club, this seems a strange move from Guardiola but Jose Angel is available at a low price, is one for the future and will allow Abidal to play in a central role next season. He will need to improve the attacking side of his game in order to become a true Barca player, however.
| BARCELONA 2011-12 – the possibilities |
| IF IT AIN’T BROKE… |
 |  | DREAM DUO    |
| Valdes
Alves – Pique – Puyol – Abidal Xavi – Busquets/Mascherano – IniestaÂ
|
 |  | Valdes
Alves – Pique – Puyol – Abidal Busquets Xavi – FABREGAS Â ÂMessi – Villa/ROSSI – Iniesta |
| Following their incredible performance against Manchester United on Saturday, many will argue that there really is no need for Guardiola to change anything at all. Barcelona produced a display at Wembley that was close to perfection and it really is difficult to see how they can improve on that. With that in mind, the above line-up (if fit) must start next season – they deserve it. With the Catalans taking part in six competitions, however, no player will expect to start every single game – except perhaps Messi. | Â | Â | If Barcelona finally put an end to the Fabregas saga by signing the Arsenal captain this summer, Guardiola will have a wealth of options in central midfield. It will allow the Barca coach to rest either Xavi or Iniesta. He could even play all three, with the latter promoted to a forward role on the left, but that brings more selection problems further up the field. It is a nice problem to have, though. |
MADE IN ARGENTINA |
 |  | RESTING THE STARS |
| Valdes
Alves – Pique – Puyol – Abidal Xavi – Busquets/Mascherano – Iniesta ÂPedro – Messi – PASTORE/ROSSI/Villa |
 |  | Valdes
Alves – Pique – Abidal – JOSE ANGEL FABREGAS – Mascherano – Iniesta ÂPedro – Messi – Villa/PASTORE |
| If Guardiola takes Messi’s advice and signs Pastore this summer, the two Argentines are likely to form a deadly partnership in attack, but that could freeze out Villa. New signings bring options, but they will also bring selections problems for Guardiola and he may be better off recruiting Rossi, who is able to cover a number of different positions as well as forming a partnership with the Spain striker. | Â | Â | Xavi and Carles Puyol have reached the stage of their careers when they need more rest. Xavi was injured at the beginning of the campaign and has looked tired at times, while Puyol has missed much of the season through injury. Abidal could fill in at centre-back, with Jose Angel at left-back, while Fabregas is an able deputy for Xavi. |
Alves – Pique – Puyol – Abidal
Xavi – Busquets/Mascherano – Iniesta ÂMessi – Villa/ROSSI – PASTORE
Keeping a host of stars happy is an unenviable task and Barca fans will remember what happened just a few years ago with their cuatro fantasticos – Ronaldinho, Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry. It didn’t work. There were too many egos (Deco was another) and it spelt the end for Ronaldinho at the club.
The advantage for Guardiola is that, unlike that side, his team are competing consistently for – and winning – the biggest prizes. And that should be enough to keep all of the players happy in 2011-12. As for getting closer to perfection – don’t bet against that either.
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Cesc Fabregas, Giuseppe Rossi and the signings who can make this Barcelona side even better