Barcelona have made significant moves in the summer transfer window, reshaping several areas of Hansi Flick’s squad ahead of the new season.

The Catalan giants have added experience, athleticism, pace and tactical flexibility, while also saying goodbye to some important players. The big question now is simple: does Barcelona’s new-look squad look stronger than last season?

The short answer is yes — but there are still some questions to answer.

Rodri Changes Everything

The headline addition is undoubtedly Rodri.

The Spanish midfielder brings elite experience, positional intelligence and exceptional ability to control the tempo of a match. More importantly, his presence gives Barcelona a natural defensive midfielder capable of protecting the defence while allowing the more creative players to operate higher up the pitch.

With Rodri behind players such as Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, Barcelona should have greater control in midfield and more security when they lose possession.

For a team that wants to dominate possession and press aggressively, that could be a transformative addition.

More Pace and Power in Attack

Barcelona have also increased their attacking options.

Anthony Gordon brings pace, directness and physicality to the left side. His ability to attack space and take on defenders gives Flick another dimension in wide areas.

Karim Adeyemi provides even more speed and versatility. His ability to operate from the wing or through the middle could prove valuable in matches where Barcelona need to attack quickly in transition.

With Lamine Yamal and Raphinha also capable of creating problems from wide positions, Barcelona now possess an impressive collection of dynamic attacking players.

The return of João Cancelo adds another layer of flexibility. His ability to contribute offensively and operate on either flank gives Flick additional tactical options.

The Lewandowski Question

However, there is one major concern: goalscoring.

Robert Lewandowski’s departure leaves a significant void. The Polish striker provided Barcelona with a reliable source of goals and was an important focal point of their attack.

His absence means Barcelona will need other players to increase their contribution in front of goal.

That responsibility could fall on several shoulders — particularly Yamal, Raphinha, Adeyemi and whoever occupies the central striker position.

Barcelona may have become more unpredictable in attack, but they have also lost one of their most dependable finishers.

A More Complete Squad?

Overall, the reshuffle appears to have made Barcelona more balanced and versatile.

The midfield has received a major boost, the wide areas are packed with pace, and Flick now has more options when adapting his team to different opponents.

The emergence of young talents such as Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Bernal also gives the squad a strong developmental core.

The biggest challenge will be maintaining consistency while integrating the new arrivals.

Verdict

Barcelona look stronger heading into the new season, particularly in midfield and across the attacking flanks.

Rodri could be the signing that makes the biggest difference because his qualities address one of the structural weaknesses Barcelona have had in recent seasons.

But the departure of Lewandowski means the team must find a new source of guaranteed goals.

If Flick can solve that problem, this Barcelona side could be considerably more difficult to play against — not only domestically but also in Europe.

Overall rating: 8/10.

The summer reshuffle has given Barcelona more control, athleticism, pace and tactical flexibility. Now, the real test begins: can this new-look Barça turn potential into trophies?