I started out wanting to discuss the best Barca signings of the last ten years but quickly realised that although we have made some great signings, so many have contributed so much but in different ways that comparison is not possible.
Ronaldinho was arguably the most important player for getting Laporta’s project off the ground, the marquee signing. There is no doubt he contributed to the style, flair and excitement of our play. Dani Alves was a large investment for a defender but without him we tend to lack an attacking dimension.
Eto’o came and scored goals, lots of goals….. Pique has returned and played beyond his years. Belletti scored an important goal in the Champions League final and Rafa Marquez has been consistent.
However, I believe that one player has made a massive impact on our club after only playing for six months (on loan from Juve). After four trophy less years, in the 2003-04 season Barca had been knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Celtic and the King’s Cup by Zaragoza before Christmas. Frank Rijkaard turned to a Dutch compatriot during the winter transfer window in his first year of Barca management when the team were facing the prospect of not qualifying for European competition for the first time in our history. The signing of Edgar Davids in January 2004 turned our fortunes around and gave the midfield the battle that it was missing at the time. I was fortunate enough to watch him play against Mallorca, complete with Eto’o, in the Camp Nou (a match that ended 3-2 in our favour) and he ran the show. Ronaldinho may have been the gloss but Davids was the engine. Barca ended the season in second behind Valencia, after winning the Catalan Cup.
I believe that without Davids’ influence we would have failed to achieve anything that year and where would Laporta’s project be now ?
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