From last few weeks even months, FC Barcelona news Twitter handler and many news channels are bombarding with news updates every hour. The frequency increased with the loss against Bilbao on the opening game of LaLiga season. In that game, Suarez got injured and post the game Dembele injury. Both the players are out for 5-6 weeks. Top of that Messi’s injury and with the latest update coming out of Barcelona news channels is that he might be out for more than a month now. So we will not see Messi until starting of October.

A week left for the Europen transfer market to close and the Neymar saga is going on. Now, do FC Barcelona need him? With the arrival of Griezmann for 120 million euro and the quality of the player he is, do FC Barcelona need Neymar? For me, it is a big YES. Let me explain why.

Barca’s False “Nine”

Many experts are telling, with the ageing Suarez and his declining form. FC Barcelona should go with a natural striker “9” rather than going with wing based player like Neymar. Let us all remind the golden era of FC Barcelona, do they had any striker at that time? Was there a player for number nine position only? No. We had Villa and Pedro in wings and Messi playing as false nine.

Now, Why Neymar is vital for this formation, and Barca already got Dembele for that position and role. Barca should start a formation with, Messi playing a false nine role and Neymar and Griezmann on both the wings. Dembele and young talent from La-Masia Carles Pérez as the backup for wingers. Let Suarez move out next year if Neymar arrives.

A race against time and will!

The second reason is, in Neymar’s deal inclusion of Rakitić. Barcelona’s midfield is already over-crowded. Barca got eight players for three positions. With Semedo fixed for the right-back position, Roberto moved to his natural place, which is right-side of midfield. Rakitić is already 31 and with Vidal already in the team, we don’t need an ageing midfielder whom we can cash in. No doubt that Rakitić is still a world-class midfielder but he can’t win the race with age and young players like Arthur and Carles Aleñá.

Whatever happens in the next few days, Barca got an excellent attacking squad. If they don’t land Neymar, next target must be a right-footed centre back to replace ageing Pique.

Also read: Neymar: I want to play with Messi