How many players will come back from Japan?

How many players will come back from Japan?

BeSoccer 4 years ago 12.2k |

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Barça starts off with a lot of uncertainty within the squad. Collage/EFE/AFP

FC Barcelona will travel to Japan on Monday to begin the pre-season, for which Ernesto Valverde has called 17 players from the first team and five from the reserves. However, up to seven players could return before the pre-season's end, and they might not be returning to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona's pre-season will begin this Monday, and it will be stained by market uncertainty, as Neymar Jr's potential arrival would have a transcendental domino effect in the preparation of Valverde's squad for next season.

In the midst of speculation over the negotiation with PSG, 'Bild' said that FC Barcelona is willing to put up to four names on the table for the PSG board to choose three as a form of bargaining chip for the 'Canarinho'.

Beyond the possible relcutance of some or all parts of the deal, what emerges from this information is that, either as a bargaining chip or entering for their transfers, several heavyweights of the squad are in the market.

In theory, Rafinha and Malcom are the two players with the highest chances of leaving. The midfielder only has one contractual year left and his problems with injuries have burdened a career that's really needing to be revived, which will not happen at Barcelona.

According to the newspaper 'AS', Valverde's call up to the reserves team shows he's confident Samuel Umtiti, Jean Claire Todibo and Nelson Semedo will step up to the plate, as he barely called up any defensive players. However, the former Lyon man's knee problems and the Toulouse man's lack of experience have the club worried.

In the case of the Portuguese full-back, Simeone's interest in taking him to Atletico Madrid is widely known. However, despite the mediation of Jorge Mendes, the accusations surrounding Antoine Griezmann's departure has only further strained the relationship between the two involved parties.

The future of Ousmané Dembélé and Ivan Rakitic is more uncertain and, of course, dependent on Neymar. Although Josep María Bartomeú reaffirmed his theory that Frenchman is better than Brazilian a few days ago, the economic urgency could change the destiny of a footballer who's currently pursued by some of Europe's biggest teams, including Bayern Munich.

As for Rakitic, it seems that this summer he will once again be the main character in a dramatic showdown. Ernesto Valverde managed to convince him to stay 12 months ago when PSG put a dizzying offer on the table. A year later, the situation is different and the need to cash in could prompt the team and the player to come to an understanding for his exit.