Speaking as a guest on the morning show at Catalunya Radio on Wednesday morning, Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has acknowledged with Víctor Valdés and Carles Puyol leaving the club at the end of the season, plans to bolster the squad ahead of the 2014-2015 campaign, are now beyond being a case of tweaking the team a little.
“It’s old news, we knew that Víctor Valdés wasn’t going to stay, now we know that Carles Puyol isn’t going to either. They have been two obvious references in our squad. Just taking these two players into account, I would say that it’s already now more than the tweaks we had envisaged.”
Beyond the loss of the two players at the end of the season, Barcelona will also have to choose new captains to lead the team on the field, with Puyol having worn the armband since 2004 and Valdés also one of the other three options in his absence. Zubizarreta assured that the players themselves will decide, who are the most suitable replacements for those roles. continue...
“Whoever wears the armbands, is something that the guys in the locker room will consider. These kinds of roles are not given, nor are they designated, whilst there’s nobody that says, ‘now it’s your turn’ – the players themselves will make the adjustments, with those players that for their age and experience, what this competition and being at Barca means.”
As for the announcement of Puyol and his choice to do so alone at his press call, Zubizarreta explained that it was the veteran player’s decision to do so, whilst understandably, there were still team-mates and colleagues amongst the club staff, who also attended and were seated in the press room.
“Knowing Carles the way I do, he preferred to do this alone. Tata was respectful of that decision and kept working for the duration of the press conference.”
Zubizarreta also joked that Puyol himself had pointed out to the Barca sporting director, the added urgency now to find a defensive replacement, when it comes to the profile of player they will seek as a replacement for their captain.
“I would say that it opens a full spectrum of options and the way we look at them. Puyol told me the other day, when we spoke of what was going to happen on Tuesday – ‘Make it quick, make it quick!’ – Well, and now it’s a fact.”
Also speaking with radio station RAC1 today, Zubizarreta confirmed that they already have their replacement for Víctor Valdés lined up, even though he wouldn’t mention the name of young German keeper, Ter Stegen.
“I already know the name of the goalkeeper who is going to replace Valdés and he’s practically already signed. We just have to give it a little more time, before we make the announcement.”
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