PETE JENSON: Xavi wants Ilkay Gundogan to be the leader of his Barcelona midfield

Xavi will ask former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan to be the leader of his magic midfield square next season as Barcelona try to defend their league title.

The 32-year-old who turns 33 this October might be the last man in but he will be the first player Xavi turns to once the new season starts as he tries to get his ideas across – with the German set to be the Barca coach’s new director of operations alongside Frenkie de Jong as Barcelona go boldly into the post-Sergio Busquets era.

Xavi employed a midfield square last season with Busquets and De Jong at its base and Gavi and Pedri up top. Next season will be the same but with Gundogan alongside De Jong. 

The German international has more often than not shone for City playing further forward but Xavi believes he can operate in a slightly deeper role in harness with De Jong – both players possessing the ability to spring forward to join the attack but intelligent enough not to go at the same time and leave Barcelona’s defence exposed.

As Mail Sport highlighted at the end of May, Xavi had asked for three free transfers to kick-off the new season: Lionel Messi, Gundogan and Inigo Martinez. He’s ended up with two out of three. Now he needs to build his team.

Xavi feels the German can lead his revamped midfield after the departure of Sergio Busquets

Gundogan is set to play a deeper role alongside Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong

There may still be time for the club to sign a specialist holding midfielder but that will depend on players leaving and at present nobody seems likely to depart. 

Barca’s debt stands at 1.3bn euros (£1.1bn) not counting the 1.5bn (£1.3bn) credit taken out to pay for the new Camp Nou. That remains a reminder that they cannot go back to the old ways of spending without control.

LaLiga will not let them anyway. They are still over their maximum squad spend so can only splash out 40m euros (£34m) of every 100m (£86m) they generate via players off the wage bill.

The club have worked hard since president Joan Laporta took over from Josep Bartomeu. Backdated wages still owed from the pandemic period when players agreed to freeze salaries is now down to just £70m. 

It was £380m when he took over. But while all of this points to a healthier future none of it suggests there will be too many more acquisitions this summer.

Joan Laporta’s second spell as Barcelona president has been plagued by financial troubles 

Barcelona avoided the catastrophe of losing starlet Gavi on a free and agreed a long-term deal

Xavi will be satisfied regardless, now that he has the midfielder he wanted more than any other. The intelligence of Gundogan makes him this summer’s star signing.

Mateu Alemany jetted into Munich on Wednesday to close the deal. And although the player has a clause in his contract that means he can walk away if Barcelona have not successfully registered him with La Liga before the season starts on August 11,  the club are confident things will go smoothly and he will become a fixture of their midfield for the next two seasons with an option of a third year.

If players do leave then there will be wriggle room to allow for more arrivals, but if nobody else comes Xavi is confident he has the options to face the new season.

Jules Kounde or Ronald Araujo will continue to have to occasionally, reluctantly shift across to right back. 

Andreas Christensen and Martinez will be the other two centre-backs with Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso the left-back options.

Ex-Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski topped the La Liga scoring charts last season with 23 goals, thanks in part to the supply from academy graduates Gavi (left) and Pedri (right) 

Sergio Busquets departure marks the end of the famed midfield three used by Guardiola 

Xavi hoping Gundogan can have a similar impact in Barcelona to what he showed at Man City

When Xavi plays three in midfield Gundogan and Pedri will flank De Jong. When he goes with his magic square Gavi will join them and Franck Kessie, Pablo Torre and converted centre-back Eric Garcia will standby in reserve. 

In attack Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres become Robert Lewandowski’s understudy’s with both also available as options on the left side of attack. Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele will contest the right wing berth and only one will play on the occasions when Xavi picks four in midfield.

It’s a squad with depth and a variety of tactical options. And it’s a squad with a new leader. 

Xavi knows he is new to the club and to La Liga, but if Gundogan was good enough for Pep Guardiola’s champions of Europe so he is good enough for his new look Barcelona.