Does Barcelona need a number 9?

Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2013 by Marca.com

Barcelona's ability to score goals is unquestionable. It has the best striker in the world in Lionel Messi, and Neymar will join the ranks in August.

However, Tito Vilanova's team was missing a classic number 9 in certain games last season – a player ever present in the other great European teams (Dzeko, Balotelli, Van Persie, Mandzukic, Lewandowski...) and one that has been absent at Barcelona since Ibrahimovic left.

The big problem, at least until now, is that this lack of a target man has aggravated the team's dependence on Leo Messi, as was evident in the Champions League against PSG and Bayern. Neymar could alleviate the matter somewhat, but he is also far from being a classic centre forward, as has been proven both at Santos and with Brazil.

Barça is checking its coffers after saving itself the burdensome wages of 'El Guaje' and is also looking to cash in on the likely departure of Thiago, but the club is focussing its efforts on the search for a centre back, who will never come cheap judging by the names under consideration.

With Villa having left, the question now is whether Barça will finally look for a traditional target man or continue to trust in the proven scoring ability of Messi & Co. Whatever happens, there is little doubt that the absence of Eto'o, the last number 9 to triumph at the Catalan club, continues to be felt.