Former Spain International Gaizka Mendieta believes Barcelona have come to the end of an era and may have started the rebuilding process too late.
The Catalans handed over their La Liga title to Atletico Madrid after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nou Camp - and manager Gerardo Tata Martino deemed it right to retire after a rather fruitless season.
And Mendieta said: “For Barca to change they need to get some new players. The cycle is coming to an end.
“I think they should have been trying to sort this a few seasons ago with [new] full-backs and a goalkeeper, knowing that Victor Valdes was not keen to renew his
contract.
“Xavi and Busquets seem to be irreplaceable. Maybe they should have looked at the key positions. Football runs in cycles – AC Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United – the biggest teams in Europe have their moments.
“It’s going to be hard to replace one of the best Spanish coaches we have had in Pep Guardiola but also a bunch of players like Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Valdes, Pique and Puyol.
“It’s time to change and, as far as I am aware, they are working on that.”
The Catalans handed over their La Liga title to Atletico Madrid after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nou Camp - and manager Gerardo Tata Martino deemed it right to retire after a rather fruitless season.
And Mendieta said: “For Barca to change they need to get some new players. The cycle is coming to an end.
“I think they should have been trying to sort this a few seasons ago with [new] full-backs and a goalkeeper, knowing that Victor Valdes was not keen to renew his
contract.
“Xavi and Busquets seem to be irreplaceable. Maybe they should have looked at the key positions. Football runs in cycles – AC Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United – the biggest teams in Europe have their moments.
“It’s going to be hard to replace one of the best Spanish coaches we have had in Pep Guardiola but also a bunch of players like Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Valdes, Pique and Puyol.
“It’s time to change and, as far as I am aware, they are working on that.”
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