Kai Havertz

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
I meant last German player signed from the Bundesliga. Hence mentioning MAtS (German player signing with us from a German club) alongside Havertz (German player playing for a German club). But even non-German players signed directly from the Bundesliga is a very rare thing for the club.

I see, but this is actually weird considering our history with German players is very small.
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fc-barcelona/10/

Those lists are far from accurate overall, but probably a bit accurate for past 30-50 years
Before MATS, Enke (RIP) & Schuster was the last 2 Germans to play here. The former joined from Benfica and the later from Koln.

Before that Udo Steinberg & Udo Steinberg joined before either Bundesliga or Liga was founded.
 

Leo_Messi

New member
I see, but this is actually weird considering our history with German players is very small.
https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fc-barcelona/10/

Those lists are far from accurate overall, but probably a bit accurate for past 30-50 years
Before MATS, Enke (RIP) & Schuster was the last 2 Germans to play here. The former joined from Benfica and the later from Koln.

Before that Udo Steinberg & Udo Steinberg joined before either Bundesliga or Liga was founded.

That was my initial point. It happens way to rarely that we end up signing German players let alone players bought directly from the Bundesliga. In past decades that was more understandable due to the significant difference in playing style and the strengths and weaknesses of the average German player but nowadays it makes little sense given how attractive the Bundesliga can be as a affordable transfer market. The German football federation also copied Spain's youth development system so the new German talents and generations of players have similar strengths which makes it even more baffling that we rarely look towards Germany.
 
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Porque

Senior Member
Yeah, we definately need to work closer with the German market.

Be it strategic loans and signings. Madrid have been developing players well from the Bundesliga.
 

BBZ8800

Senior Member
As Leo Messi and Khaled said, historically, Italian, German and English players always stayed in their country.

In 90s, almost all top:
Spanish players played in La Liga.
All best Italian players played in Seria A.
All best English players played in EPL.
All German players played... more or less in Bayern, as always.

Then we have other countries like Brasil and Argentina, where all players go to Europe as fast as possible.
And even there we have some weird connections.
In 90s and 00s, while Milan was in top2-3 clubs in the world, they always had a connection with Brasil and Brasilian players.
While Inter for example, was always more oriented towards Argentine players.

Netherlands was always selling their young prospects.
In 90s to Milan and Barca.
Later even to EPL.

Portugual and their league was always a place where teams were buying young South American players who are not good yet for Barca or Real, so Porto/Benfica were a next step in their development.
France was always a league with lots of talents and in 90s, their players usually played in EPL, Italy and Spain.
Lately, since Italy is semi dead, their players go to Barca/Real/AM, EPL or Bayern/Dortmund.

There are other historical and weird connections.
For example, Croatian players since 90s, were always fitting the most easily into German league, into their culture, climate and a style of play.
Croatian players had some success in 90s in Italy. And some success in Spain over years.
On the other hand, like 95% of Croatian players turn into a total disaster in EPL, and England is the worst place for all Croatian players. A totally different mentality and a style of play.

Regarding Barca, Barca always had the strongest connection with Brasilian players since Brasil played "joga bonita" plus Catalonia has a warm weather and a culture similar to Brasil.
So, for Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario, R9, Neymar and co, it is way more likely that they will fit more easily into Barca's Joga Bonita playful football than into a cold German culture, mentality and weather.
On the other hand, German league is a good place for players from Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkey and similar.
In Germany there are millions of people from Croatia, Turkey and similar and people see Germany as their home, to some extent.
On the other hand: Turkish players at Barca... it never works.

As I have said, in the past Italians were never leaving Seria A.
It only started when Juve was relegated and we bought Zambrotta.
Then Seria A bankrupted and some of their players started to move to Psg and to other richer European clubs.
Regarding Germany, German players have some weird connection with Germany and they very rarely leave their clubs.
Even if they somehow leave Germany, in majority of cases those are players NOT from Bayern. Like Ozil, Khedira.
Or they move aged 30, like Ballack.
Kroos is one of rare examples of Bayern's German players leaving in their prime.

Some will reply: each player is unique.
True.
But then, Barca has good connection and good experience since Cruijff with Dutch players.
And we have horrible experience with let's say Turkish or Russian players.

Some things just naturally click better.

So, regarding ideas that we should buy Goretzka, Havertz etc, that will happen only in Football Manager.
** Oh, and the same is with English players, they almost never leave their clubs. Except Beckham in the old age...
In reality, players whom Barca will always buy are:
1. Brasilian players
2. top Argentine or other South American players
3. Dutch players
4. French players
5. Catalonian and Spanish players
6. and a random dude here and there like Rakitic, Zlatan etc

So, imo, guys, you shouldn't lose too much time about dreaming of German/English players.
 
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khaled_a_d

Senior Member
As Leo Messi and Khaled said, historically, Italian, German and English players always stayed in their country.

AFAIK We had a strong history with British players, read before (not sure how accurate is it) it was the foreign nationality that we got most players from until the 90's. After that we shifted to Latin and Dutch and abandoned British.
Also, they are nationality that provided us with most coaches.
That has changed in past 2-3 decades for sure, but it tells you how things can change.

I think we need to look at those markets for bargains or youth players to join Barca B etc. It will be difficult to get top British player or even top German players nowadays.
But if you get someone through great scouting, you can always get a gem.
There is no certain "gameplan" for success. It is always about how you execute this plan
 

Laplacian

Senior Member
He's the perfect no. 8, the Iniesta replacement we've all been dreaming about, and in my opinion he can reach greater heights. He's affordable and he's on his final contract years. Our midfield dreadfully needs creativity and he can solve that issue for the next 8+ years, yet we're sleeping on him and letting Bayern get him no issues.

Meanwhile we spend 300m for players we don't have any positions for in the club, like Coutinho and Griezmann.

What a fucking joke.
 

Yannik

Senior Member
according to BILD Bayern, Liverpool and Barca are interested and Leverkusen will only sell at €100m
 

MTL_Barca

Well-known member
Dident he say he will stay another year in Levekusen during a PC a couple days ago?

He won't be sold this summer. That article is titled "why Havertz is worth so much" and just lists his qualities, stats and some quotes about him.

So not really any breaking news regarding a possible transfer, that's more of a side note in the article.
 
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Donatello

Active member
Can be play the Suarez role? Maybe that's why we're interested in him.

I mean he could work out, considering he has everything needed that Suarez has, can build up, can finish, good with headers, not so pacy but Suárez wasn't either but he is taller and has a better physique.

At the same time, I fear he could turn out to be Coutinho 2.0.
 
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Slevinn

Senior Member
He won't be sold this summer. That article is titled "why Havertz is worth so much" and just lists his qualities, stats and some quotes about him.

So not really any breaking news regarding a possible transfer, that's more of a side note in the article.

Ah well, smart move by him.

I do hope we keep or are following this dude tho.
 

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