Ranking Barcelona's Top 10 Summer Transfers of the Past 10 Years
Choosing Barcelona's 10 best summer transfers over the last 10 years is subjective in itself without trying to then rank them accordingly.
What is clear from the list you are about to view is that there have been some fine additions to the Blaugrana roster in the decade from the 2005/06 summer transfer window.
Some of the players had only a fleeting dalliance with the club but made their mark in a short spell. Others still play a hugely important part today.
Let's take a look and see if you agree with the selections and remember to leave your comments below.
10. Thierry Henry: June 2007
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It was a little surprising when Barcelona announced that they had signed Thierry Henry from Arsenal in a €24 million deal on 25 June 2007.
Uncertainty over Arsene Wenger's future was the reason given by Henry at the time of his departure, per Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror.
A certain amount of dissatisfaction from playing on the wing in his opening season gave way to goals, goals, goals in the next as the Frenchman combined with Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi to score 100 goals between them.
His goals were as much a contributory factor to Barca winning their first treble that season, as anything else.
Henry would eventually leave a year before the end of his contract because of the continuing emergence of Pedro Rodriguez.
9. Alexis Sanchez: August 2011
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Arsenal are now the recipients of Alexis Sanchez's incomparable work ethic, but Barca will be grateful for the contributions the Chilean made during his time at the club.
Pep Guardiola made him the first player from that country to turn out for the Blaugrana when Barca paid Udinese an initial fee of €26 million on 21 July 2011.
It was quite a price for a then 21-year-old Sanchez, but his work-rate, ability and directness had already won him many admirers in Catalonia.
During the course of his tenure at Camp Nou, Sanchez would come up with some memorable strikes.
Never better than during the first El Clasico of the 2013 season when a delicate chip over Real Madrid's Diego Lopez took the game beyond the reach of Los Blancos.
His exocet missile against Atletico Madrid on the final day of that season was ultimately in vain as the Rojiblanocos took the La Liga title courtesy of Diego Godin's equaliser.
Ultimately, Sanchez and Pedro Rodriguez were rotated most weeks to allow Neymar to play as many games as possible. It was an untenable situation which didn't continue for long.
Barca's loss?
8. Jordi Alba: June 2012
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The first of two players in this list to be brought "back home."
Jordi Alba was, of course, a member of some Barcelona youth teams but was allowed to leave and eventually become a fixture at Valencia.
After Eric Abidal's liver transplant, Alba was earmarked as his replacement and was secured on 28 June 2012 for a fee of €14 million.
In making an assessment of Alba's attributes, it's fair to suggest that there aren't too many players, if any, that play the wing-back role as well as he.
Alba's pace and energy in support of the Barca attack is often what makes or breaks the momentum when the team push forward.
If there's a criticism of him, it's that his discipline still needs work. There remains a little immaturity in his personality because the cards still flow far too easily.
As an overall package, however, Barcelona have to be happy.
7. Eric Abidal: July 2007
4 of 10The €9 million Barcelona paid Lyon on 29 June 2007 for the services of Eric Abidal would prove to be money well spent.
Although his time at the club was interrupted by health concerns, the iron will of the player as much as his prowess on the pitch is what endeared him to the Barca faithful.
Equally at home on the left side of a central defensive pairing or in the left-back role, the Frenchman was quick and deceptively strong with wonderful aerial ability.
The iconic pictures of him lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley in 2011, just two months after Barca had announced that Abidal had been diagnosed with a tumour in his liver, will live long in the memory.
However, his defensive contributions to Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side should never be forgotten.
6. David Villa: May 2010
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"El Guaje" was a hugely popular signing when putting pen to paper on 19 May 2010.
The €40 million transfer fee was considered the going rate for a player of his evident prowess and 35,000 supporters turned out for his presentation was enough of a nod to the club directors that they'd got this one right.
His sharp movement and eye for goal for both Spain and Valencia had already won him a legion of admirers, and Barca fans took him to their hearts almost immediately.
The two goals he scored in the epic 5-0 crushing of Real Madrid that November further endeared him to the Catalan public.
His final act of a wonderful debut season was to curl the ball into the Manchester United net at Wembley to secure another Champions League for Barca.
Villa remained the perfect foil for Lionel Messi throughout his time at the club and only a broken leg midway through the following season saw his excellence curtailed.
Eight months out of action meant he then missed the entire 2011/12 season before coming back into contention in August 2012.
Sixteen goals in 30 appearances in his final season was a reasonable return considering much of his match time came from the bench as he continued his recovery.
5. Ivan Rakitic: July 2014
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Ivan Rakitic must surely be the bargain of the century.
It was an absolute steal when Barcelona persuaded the Sevilla captain to join them in a €15 million deal on 16 June 2014.
He was by common consent the stand-out player for the Andalusians in the previous couple of seasons, both of which ended with a Europa League victory.
The Croatian enjoyed his time there so much that he cried when he left, but he did so in the hope of winning silverware at Barca. It took just a season for him to be proved correct.
An intoxicating mixture of guile, grit, intelligence and accuracy in the pass and shot, Rakitic played the fullest part in bringing an unprecedented second treble back to the Catalans.
4. Luis Suarez: July 2014
7 of 10Controversy surrounded Barcelona's capture of Luis Suarez from Liverpool in a €94 million deal on 11 July 2014.
Having been found guilty of biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, his third such offence, the Uruguayan was banned from all football-related activities for four months.
His debut was therefore delayed until the first El Clasico of the season on 25 October, but he wasted no time in announcing himself with a third-minute assist for Neymar to open the scoring.
It would be well into the new year before Suarez really found his shooting boots, a scissor-kick volley against Levante in February giving him a physical and metaphorical lift-off.
He would end the campaign with 25 goals and 20 assists, and has already hit the ground running in 2015/16.
A sound purchase despite the baggage.
3. Gerard Pique: May 2008
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Another La Masia graduate to make his way back to the club via a sojourn elsewhere.
Manchester United probably regretted letting him go for a knockdown £5 million (€7.02 million) on 27 May 2008.
Precisely a year later, Pique produced a towering performance against his old employers to stop them from becoming the first team in the modern era to retain the Champions League trophy.
The completion of the treble was followed by the completion of the sextuple with the elegant modern defender a colossus at the back throughout.
There were very definite question marks over his attitude and application in 2013/14 and Pique himself noted a desire to get back to being the best defender in the world, per FCBarcelona.com.
Luis Enrique's employment as manager saw a renewed focus from the player, who was back to his best for the majority of 2015.
He remains one of only seven Barca players to be part of both treble-winning teams.
2. Javier Mascherano: August 2010
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Javier Mascherano officially became a Barcelona player on 30 August 2010, signing in a €24 million deal from Liverpool.
Held in such high regard at the Anfield club, his move to the warmer climbs of Catalonia upset a large portion of the Reds' fan base. Not surprising when you consider just how big a player "El Jefe" has been for Barca ever since.
Whether in his more natural role of defensive midfielder or his more common employment at centre-back, Mascherano has only ever provided the very highest levels of sporting excellence.
A true warrior and leader, the Argentinian approaches each game as though it were his last and leaves every last ounce of effort out on the pitch.
Youngsters learning their trade could do a lot worse than follow Mascherano's example.
1. Neymar: June 2013
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Another transfer shrouded in controversy and one that ended with the eventual resignation of Sandro Rosell as president.
Whatever the whys and wherefores of the deal to bring Neymar to Barca on 3 June 2013 for a reported fee of €57.1 million, per FCBarcelona.com, it can't be argued that the player hasn't been worth the money.
A stop-start first season was probably to be expected as the player adjusted to life in a new country and professionally in a much tougher league than he had been used to.
There were still flashes of Brazilian brilliance during 2013/14 but nothing compared to an incredible second season.
If Lionel Messi remains the kingpin at Barca, then Neymar is certainly doing his utmost to be the heir to that particular throne.
Sensational play throughout 2014/15 was rewarded with 39 goals which before the Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo era would've been enough for the Pichichi award in most seasons.
At the time of writing, he remains the highest scorer in La Liga during the current season despite missing some of it with mumps.
He'll take some stopping again and is a worthy number one in this list.
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