The FC Barcelona confirmed the incorporation, on loan without option to buy, of Luuk de Jong on the last day of the summer transfer market, in one of the strangest moves of the entire period. Nobody expected the Blaugrana club’s commitment to an attacker who is not a starter at Sevilla, a team that is not at the level of the European elite.
The reason for their incorporation is more than obvious. Ronald Koeman needed a center forward with a dominant physique and the ability to be a piece that offered solutions in direct play against opponents who were pressing something. It is a role that is above the quality of the player, a bet that has never worked for Barcelona beyond a couple of very specific occasions.
A pointless signing
Luuk de Jong is not a bad footballer, because he has been part of the Netherlands team and was a starter at Sevilla FC, the Europa League champion a couple of season ago, but he is not at the level to play for Barcelona and less to be a constant bet of the coach over names that should be the future of the team.
The Dutch striker can play a fundamental role, but it does not seem an interesting bet to make a leap in quality and less when the departure of Antoine Griezmann to Atlético de Madrid was confirmed. And worst of all, the club will have three center forwards when Sergio Agüero recovers from his injury. Three players for a single position, with little reliability of the performance of the three in the big stages.
Barcelona’s transfer market is one of the worst in its history due to the departure of two of its two best players at the offensive level and with few variations, beyond Memphis Depay, to fight to fight for the important titles. A transitional stage that should not exist in the European elite.
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