€20m for a 30-year-old? Barcelona's transfer policy goes from bad to worse

 

The transfer is a dubious one on many levels. Firstly, his age. The most expensive signing of a defender aged 30 or over in history, almost doubling what Real Madrid paid for Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 - and he would win the Ballon d'Or that year.

What's more, he has signed a four-year deal with the option of a fifth - lengthy considering his relatively modest top-level experience. And to top it all, his release clause last summer was €10m before signing a new deal in July. At that price, and a year younger, the deal might have been more palatable.

Secondly, Mathieu is a left-back by trade, and was even employed as a left winger by Valencia. Only in the past two seasons has he regularly featured in the centre, and he will still probably begin the campaign as the club's fourth best in that position after Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra and Javier Mascherano. The overriding concern has been the shoehorning of the likes of Sergio Busquets, Alex Song and Mascherano in alongside Pique or Bartra - essentially taking players out of their natural habitat. It's difficult to recognise the difference here.

Then we must bring Luis Suarez into the equation. An €88m integration into a team that scored 148 goals in all competitions in 2013-14, with all the baggage that he brings with him, seems to be a monumental and avoidable risk made all the more galling considering the middling option taken on Mathieu. Barca have had the opportunity to prove how serious they are about building a team again. There are options out there, many of them. Mateo Musacchio delivered another excellent campaign for Villarreal, is 23 and would have cost less. Matija Nastasic may well be surplus to requirements at Manchester City, but is 21 and has years to develop.

Player Jordi Alba Alex Song Neymar Alen Halilovic Ivan Rakitic Ter Stegen Claudio Bravo Luis Suarez J. Mathieu	Year 2012 2012 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014	From Valencia Arsenal Santos D. Zagreb Sevilla Gladbach R. Sociedad Liverpool Valencia	Fee €14m €19m €57m €2.2m €19m €12m €12m €88m €20m

At the high end of the market, Mats Hummels remains one of the best defenders in the world. Given what's just been thrown to Liverpool in exchange for Suarez, a bid to at least test Borussia Dortmund's resolve could have led to his capture. The argument, one that's been peddled for five years now, is that there are no centre-backs out there good enough for Barcelona. It's patently not the case in the current market.

And that's where future Barca and the previous incarnation disappear on diverging paths. From a club drilled on the philosophy of La Masia, developing their own prodigious talents to supplement superstar signings, they now appear more keen to follow the Real Madrid doctrine. Buy world stars, and ask questions later.

Suarez wasn't necessary, in the same way that James Rodriguez wasn't necessary for Madrid. But the precedent appears to have been set. Neymar, Messi, Suarez... and whoever else we have left. Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol - the Catalan heart of the team has dispersed. Xavi, an ageing legend, looks to be retained. At every turn, logic and long-term consideration seem inconsequential.

Luis Enrique may see this summer of huge upheaval as necessary change.

"We are going to do it my way, no doubt about that. I am not going to do what everyone else might tell me. Results will tell the tale of whether I got it right or whether I'm crazy," he said.

Make no mistake, this will be his team. But will it still be Barcelona?