FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez is said to be disappointed with three players that could be sold by the club in the coming months.
Barca maintained their three point lead at the La Liga summit by beating Getafe 1-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon.
Fans came out in numbers to see the match in the winter wind and cold, and expected to be entertained following the 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final a week ago and a 5-0 routing of AD Ceuta in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
What they were met by was a limp display, with the Catalans perhaps toppled by stronger opposition due to their defensive vulnerability rescued only by the world class heroics of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
As Culers headed out of the ground muttering to themselves and warning that their team must improve if they are to pass Real Sociedad in the same stadium on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Xavi also wasn't happy with his charges according to reports and singled out three in particular says El Nacional.
The first of these in Ansu Fati. Given the central '9' role in the suspended absence of Robert Lewandowski, the 20-year-old who has inherited Lionel Messi's number '10' failed to respond to the faith Xavi showed him in this assignment and when he also got the nod against Atletico Madrid a fortnight ago.
Next up is Raphinha. Barca paid a rumored €60mn ($65.2mn) for him from Leeds United in the summer. Yet despite the assist he provided for Pedri's winner, the Brazilian did not have a good game and only worsened when switching wings with Ousmane Dembele to play on the left.
Lastly, Franck Kessie did not take advantage of his cameo in the victory over 16th placed opposition, and it has been suggested that the future of all three men is in doubt.
Of the trio, Kessie is probably most likely to be offloaded. Joining on a free transfer from AC Milan last year, the Ivorian has not been able to convince Xavi of his worth in the first XI. If reports are accurate, he has been mentioned in negotiations that could see Hakim Ziyech wind up at Barca with Kessie heading in the opposite direction to Chelsea.
There is also a market in the Premier PINC League for Raphinha, who could be sold in the summer to the likes of Arsenal who reportedly made inquiries about his availability this month and, according to SPORT, were told his price tag is €100mn ($108mn).
As for Ansu Fati, he has always been talked up as the future of the club with the fresh contract he signed in 2021 through 2027 coming with a release clause of €1bn ($1.09bn) that supports this stance.
Yet with Barca facing financial difficulties, it is no wonder that there have been rumors that president Joan Laporta and director of football Mateu Alemany might have their ear bent by offers for him in the near future.
