Five Premier League Players Who Flopped At Barcelona | OneFootball

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La Liga giants Barcelona have often looked to the Premier League for established talent. This summer, the Catalan giants completed high-profile deals for Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Rodri from Manchester City, while also bringing in Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal to provide cover for Raphinha.

Although Barcelona are renowned for developing talent through their famous La Masia academy, they have also found some exceptional players in the Premier League who went on to play key roles at the Camp Nou. Luis Suarez, Thierry Henry and Gerard Pique all arrived from English clubs and enjoyed highly successful spells in Catalonia, while current captain Raphinha joined from Leeds United in the summer of 2022.

However, a strong reputation in England has not always translated into success at Barcelona. From expensive attacking signings to highly rated players who struggled to settle, several Premier League imports have failed to make the expected impact in Catalonia.

Inside Futbol take a look at five Premier League players who flopped in Barcelona colours.

1. Philippe Coutinho – From Liverpool

Coutinho joined Barcelona in January 2018 after establishing himself as one of Liverpool’s key players. The Brazilian had become one of the Premier League’s standout creative talents at Anfield, making his move the Camp Nou one of the biggest deals of the season amid Jurgen Klopp admitting it was a move Coutinho really wanted.

Barcelona paid a massive €135m to bring him in, a fee Ivan Rakitic admitted was high, hoping he could help fill the creative void left by Neymar. However, Coutinho struggled to produce consistently at the same level. He made 106 appearances for the Catalan giants, scoring 26 goals and providing 13 assists, but his influence gradually faded.

Finding a settled position was also difficult, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele competing for attacking roles. A loan to Bayern Munich followed in 2019/20, before Coutinho eventually left Barcelona permanently.

The Brazilian never ever rediscovered his Liverpool form, with his Anfield exit appearing to mark the start of a decline.

2. Alexander Hleb – From Arsenal

Hleb joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2008 after establishing himself as a technically gifted attacking midfielder in north London. His ability to carry the ball and link midfield with attack appeared well suited to Barcelona’s possession-based football.

Instead, he struggled to earn regular opportunities under Pep Guardiola. In a midfield which already had Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, the player struggled to cement his spot at the club. Hleb made just 36 official appearances in his first season without scoring and never established himself as a regular starter.

Barcelona won the treble that season, but Hleb played only a peripheral role. He was sent on loan to Stuttgart the following season, followed by spells at Birmingham City and Wolfsburg. For a player arriving from Arsenal with a strong reputation, his Barcelona career never got going.

Hleb criticised Barcelona for giving what he saw as more opportunities to Spanish players, but few can argue with the results Guardiola’s decisions produced.

3. Alex Song – From Arsenal

Song had developed into an important midfielder at Arsenal before Barcelona signed him in 2012. His physical presence and versatility offered something different to a midfield built around Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta.

Despite joining Barcelona having left Song delighted, he never became a first-choice midfielder. Song made 65 official appearances for Barcelona and scored once, with many of those outings coming as a substitute or rotation option.

His ability to operate in both midfield and defence made him a useful option, but he never managed to establish a settled role or live up to expectations. Unlike at Arsenal, where he was given greater freedom, Song found his role more restricted at Barcelona, whose system already had players capable of controlling and progressing the ball.

By 2015, Barcelona were working overtime to try to find a buyer for Song and he returned to the Premier League on loan with West Ham United before the Catalans eventually terminated his contract in 2016.

4. Thomas Vermaelen – From Arsenal

Vermaelen’s Barcelona spell was largely defined by injuries. The Belgian joined from Arsenal in 2014 as an experienced centre-back and former captain, but a serious thigh problem soon after his arrival required surgery and kept him out for much of his first season.

He joined Barcelona with a hamstring injury sustained at the 2014 World Cup and underwent surgery in November, with a four-to-six-month recovery period initially expected. As a result, he did not make his debut until May 2015 and managed just one official appearance in his first season.

The defender eventually made 53 appearances for Barcelona, but injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress.

Vermaelen won several major honours at the Camp Nou, including La Liga and the Champions League, but his personal contribution was limited by his lack of availability.

5. Gerard Deulofeu – From Everton

Deulofeu, a La Masia product, was brought back by Barcelona in 2017 after he had gained Premier League experience with Everton and spent time at AC Milan. The club exercised their buy-back option following his loan spell in Italy.

The winger was given another chance to establish himself at his boyhood club, but he managed only 17 appearances and two goals in La Liga before leaving on loan for Watford in January 2018.

Deulofeu had the pace and dribbling ability to trouble defenders, but consistency and end product remained issues. With Barcelona’s attacking options already strong, he could not secure a regular role and his second spell at the Camp Nou lasted only six months in what was a huge disappointment.

Barcelona have continued to attract established Premier League talent, but adapting to life at the Camp Nou has proved difficult for some. While each of these five players had different circumstances working against them, none managed to establish the kind of lasting influence expected when they arrived.

Though Barcelona’s new signings Gordon, Rodri and Jesus have started well for them, it remains to be seen how these Premier League stars perform for the La Liga giants over the longer term.