And Barça's new centre back is... Puyol!

Posted Thursday, August 08, 2013 by Marca.com

Both Martino and his assistants have been surprised at the quality of the squad, and have concluded that with the players they have, they are good enough to compete on all fronts.

Although on 2nd August Rosell stated that Barcelona would sign another player before the transfer window closes, the coaching staff do not consider this to be absolutely indispensable. This is down to the good recovery being made by Puyol, who should be at maximum match fitness inside one month.

Both Martino and his assistants have been surprised at the quality of the squad, and have concluded that with the players they have, they are good enough to compete on all fronts. At the back, Martino has Alves, Adriano, Montoya and Jordi Alba at full-back, with Piqué, Puyol, Mascherano and Bartra all available in the centre. The problem is that in recent seasons the captain has been beset with injuries and has thus not played even half the possible number of games. Right now he is still recovering from a knee operation (removal of a Baker's cyst) connected to the arthroscopy which he underwent on 15th March.

In principle, however, Puyol should have no problems in recovering his peak level of fitness and it is thought that following the short break in league fixtures because of international requirements, he ought to be all right. Additionally, the club is not ruling out making use of the winter transfer window if need be, if Puyol suffers any setbacks.

The club is working on this just in case. David Luiz of Chelsea and Daniel Agger of Liverpool seem to be the likeliest candidates. Oddly enough, Agger did not travel with Liverpool on Tuesday to play a friendly game in Norway, and so rumours about him leaving have taken off.