How Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez Can Form a Deadly Understanding at Barcelona

The conclusion drawn from Barcelona's most recent season was quite simple: The Nou Camp side needed some changes.

Manager Gerardo Martino stepped down immediately after the season's final match, but the performances throughout the season showed that Catalan pride needed more than cosmetic changes. Just a few days after the disappointing Atletico Madrid draw that cost Barcelona the La Liga title, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, in an interview with Jordi Clos of the club's official website, predicted a transformation of the team: "We will go into a period with profound changes," he said, highlighting the main issue stating that Barcelona "lacked the ability to score goals."

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

The introduction of Luis Enrique as manager was the first sign, but the confirmation of Bartomeu's words arrived with the summer transfer window. The landing of Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla and Luis Suarez from Liverpool served as the evidence that Enrique intends to tweak the team's principles.

Of course, he stumbled upon some opposition, Johan Cruyff being the loudest among his critics. In his De Telegraaf column (h/t Stefan Coerts of Goal), the Barcelona icon wrote that the addition of Suarez is another sign of taking the team further away from the distinctive Barca style:

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I don't know how they plan to play free-flowing attacking football with Messi, Neymar and Suarez in one team. They are all players who rely on their individual actions. Barcelona choose for individualism rather than a team playing good football. The style of play they developed under Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola is being abandoned.

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However, Cruyff's remarks could end up proven wrong. As much as Enrique is introducing changes to his Barcelona side, it is difficult to expect these changes to be radical. He'll probably stick to a 4-3-3 system and build his play around the best player he has: Lionel Messi.

As usual, the question of "can they fit together" will often be raised, but Enrique was always the advocate of a three-man front line, and he would stick to it with or without Suarez. Not much will change for Messi, who enjoys his false-nine role that allows him to roam free and still be the vital attacker. Nor will much change for Neymar, who will penetrate from the left side of the attack—the position he prefers.

Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press

Suarez, who cannot play or train with the rest of the team until his suspension expires at the end of October, is a versatile player who is able to adjust himself to the team. Yes, he was the focal point for Liverpool, but with 12 assists and 87 total chances created, per Squawka, Suarez is a player who knows how to create for the others.

In the fluid line, where three attackers constantly change positions and create confusion, Suarez will still have enough chances to exploit space and flourish.

This is where his partnership with Rakitic could raise Barcelona's game to a different level. Of course, it is difficult to think about the players creating a deadly understanding in their situation, with Suarez missing four months of football. But it is obvious what Enrique is trying to get with the addition of these two.

Last season, Suarez was the top striker (and player) in the Premier league, scoring 31 goals in 33 matches. His conversion rate of 17.4, according to WhoScored, was actually quite poor, but we should take into account his ability to get himself into a position to shoot, something that Suarez does better than most.

Last season, he tried his luck on 152 occasions (81 on target), which is almost the same as Neymar, Sanchez and Pedro combined (169 attempts). Even Messi stopped at 111 attempts, as per Squawka.

Suarez may not be the most efficient striker in Europe, but what he brings to the team is more direct play, trying from most of the situations he can, something Barcelona did not do last season. Obviously, these numbers will be reduced considering he will no longer be the main direction of all the attacks, but it will definitely bring a new dimension to Barcelona's attack.

Almost the same stands for Rakitic.

At first sight, the Croatian midfielder is everything but a good choice for Barcelona's style of play. Last season with Sevilla, he converted only 80 percent of his passes according to WhoScored, being way behind Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio Busquets—players that converted more than 90 percent. As much as he is versatile and able to adjust to the team, Rakitic is not the player who will focus on short passes and circling around the box. He'll try his luck with a long ball or blast a shot from distance, if necessary.

Toni Rodriguez/Associated Press

That 26-year-old midfielder scored 12 goals last season and added 10 assists—as much as Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets combined. He had more key passes than any Barcelona midfielder, and he created 78 chances according to Squawka, also having 64 goal attempts (27 on target), three more than the above-mentioned trio together.

Enrique will not change Barcelona drastically, but with Rakitic and Suarez, he could speed up the team in transition and make it more direct. Two players with similar visions of the game could make a perfect understanding and exploit the space that occurs, something that did not happen often enough last season. Eventually, that could end up in Barcelona being more dangerous and effective, while still playing its style and dominating possession.