Barcelona arealready thinking about the next season. While Ronald Koeman‘s squad is fighting for La Liga title and has to face Athletic Bilbao in the 2021 Copa del ReyFinal soon, the manager and the board of directors are also making plans for the future.
Lionel Messi‘s contract situation is obviously the biggest concern for the Cules, as the superstar’s deal is running out at the end of this campaign, and he has many options to decide where to continue his career. However, the Catalans are also focused on the possible incoming transfers.
It is believed that Barcaintendsto upgrade the defense, and they were already linked with some potential targets. In fact, according to multiple reports,two Argentinian defenderscould land at the Camp Nou next season: Lisandro Martínez, from Ajax, and Marcos Senesi, currently in Feyenoord. There were many Argentines who performed with the Blaugranas, such as Diego Maradona, Juan Román Riquelme, among others. But how many compatriots have featured in defensive positions with Barcelona before? Let’s break it down here.
Mauricio Pellegrino
Mauricio Pellegrino became a manager after retirement (Getty).
Following a long, successful spell with local team Vélez Sarsfield, where he achieved six titles, Mauricio Pellegrino went to Barcelona on loan in 1998. The center back joined Luis van Gaal’s squad that went on to win La Liga that season, in which he had 25 appearances.
Juan Pablo Sorín
Juanpi Sorin wore Barca’s colors in 2003 (Getty).
One of the best Argentinian left-backs inrecent years, Juan Pablo Sorín completed a move toBarcelona in the middle of the 2002/03 season, being acquired by the Cules on the winter transfer window from Lazio. He played fifteen matches that term, before being loaned to Paris Saint-Germain.
Rafael Zuviría
Zuviria had a great stint playing for Barcelona (fcbarcelona.es).
Even though he used to play as a left-winger before he arrived at Barcelona, he performed as a right-back for the Blaugranas. Zuviría belonged to a successful squad alongside the likes of Johan Cruyff, Carles Rexach, and Bernd Schuster. He spent five seasons from 1977until 1982, in which he amassed 14 goals taking part in more than 100 matches, and wonboth the Copa del Rey and the defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice.
Gabriel Milito
Gaby Milito celebrating in a Clasico in his last season with Barcelona (Getty).
After emerging with Independiente only at17 years of age, Gabyhad a fantastic rise becoming one of the most promising center backs in Argentina. Milito’sfirst move to Spain was when Zaragoza acquired himand following four impressive campaigns being a starter, he gave a step forward joining Barcelona in 2007. In his first season under Frank Rijkaard Milito saw first-team action, but injuries cursed him in the next years, and he struggled to get back into the starting eleven. Heleft the club at the end of the 2010/11 campaign.
Javier Mascherano
Even though the ‘Jefecito’ originally played as a defensive midfielder, in Barcelona he mostly performed as a center backand became a beloved person by the fans. He was highly praised by Pep Guardiola, who coached him in one of the best years in the club’s history, and belonged to a dominating team that claimed multiple titles. Mascherano was the second most successful Argentine in Barcelona, obviously behind the legend Lionel Messi, lifting 19 trophies in his eight-year stint between 2010/11 and 2017/18. He featured with the Blaugrana jersey in 333 games.
