Barcelona's most notable deal this summer is a long-term contract with Lamine Yamal.
The striker who just turned 18 in July has become the brightest star under coach Hansi Flick. And after scoring four goals in pre-season, Yamal seems ready to take his career to new heights in the near future.
In goalkeeper position, Barca has made a big change when spending 25 million Euros to recruit Joan Garcia from Espanyol. Garcia is expected to be the number 1 choice in goal, with Wojciech Szczesny playing as a reserve. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is likely to leave after recovering from a back injury.
Up front, after destination number Nico Williams decided to stay at Athletic Bilbao and sign a 10-year contract, Barca borrowed Marcus Rashford from Manchester United to add depth to the squad. If Rashford regains his top form, this could be a wise addition.
In addition to the new players, Blaugrana will still rely on the framework that exceeded expectations last season, despite losing center back Inigo Martinez just a week before the season started.
This player has moved to Saudi Arabia to help Barcelona reduce financial pressure. It is likely that Ronald Araujo will be paired with Pau Cubarsi.
"Last season, he was a very important part of our success, but his departure will be an opportunity for the other players to mature.
I will talk to Deco when he is present and then we will consider, but for now I think not" - Hansi Flick said about the departure of Inigo Martinez.
In the past 35 years in La Liga, only Barcelona has successfully defended the championship title many times. That means Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna are all helpless in the face of this task, while Real Madrid have only won the championship twice in a row since 1990, in 2008.
This is not a matter of undermining any team, but a clear demonstration of how difficult it is to keep the "golden throne" in Spain.
If Hansi Flick can successfully re-establish himself, add new players, train more talent from the academy and resolve the long-standing instability in the club, then it will truly be an upgraded performance.
To do that, Barca need to improve their defense on the entire pitch. Part of their appeal to neutral fans last season was their fiery spirit, never giving up.
Blaugrana's spectacular comebacks against Benfica, Inter Milan, Atletico and Celta Vigo all left a strong impression. However, they have also repeatedly shown their naivety and recklessness. This was Hansi Flick's biggest concern last season, and now is the time to find balance.
