Sergi Roberto’s Barcelona exit this summer marked the end of an era for the Catalan club.
The versatile right-back was the last Barca player left from the Pep Guardiola era from 2008-2012. The only player still in the squad who has experienced winning a Champions League title is now Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who did so under Luis Enrique in 2015.
Roberto’s departure also follows that of a number of dressing-room heavyweights over the years — including Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Those players spent more than 10 years as undisputed leaders of the team and have now handed on the baton.
Chosen by the squad, Barca’s captaincy group gives an insight into which players are popular behind the scenes. It has also thrown up some surprises this season: Ter Stegen has been named first captain and is joined by Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Raphinha and Pedri.
It is the first time since the 2002-03 season that Barca’s captain hasn’t been trained at their youth academy, La Masia. The absence of one of their more experienced players in Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, raised eyebrows with some fans — particularly given the inclusion of Raphinha, who has been in and out of the side in recent seasons.
Let’s go through the new leadership group, player by player.
Ter Stegen was the obvious choice to become first captain. He is the longest-serving member of this current squad and took the armband for much of last season when Roberto wasn’t in the starting lineup.
His importance in the dressing room dates back to a couple of seasons ago and from a time when Barca were sweeping all before them with Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and co. He is seen as a calm person who has been able to step away from the politics around the club and is a vital support for younger players at a turbulent time for Barca.
“I’m happy when the players come and comment on things with me,” he told the German magazine Suddeutsche Zeitung last year. “That’s how I see my role in the team, but I don’t necessarily need the captain’s armband for that.”
Ter Stegen is seen as a calming influence at Barca (Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The same is true of the next two names: De Jong and Araujo.
The Dutchman’s dressing-room status is clear from how highly other Barca players speak of him in interviews, regularly saying he is the player who surprised them the most in training in terms of his ability. He is another of the club’s longest-serving players at present and was named vice-captain of the Netherlands last year.
Curiously, De Jong was named one of Barca’s captains a year after the summer of 2022 — when the club’s attempts to sell him to Manchester United were made very public. But De Jong enjoyed a fine season following that transfer window, forming an impressive midfield partnership with Busquets and gaining in stature in the dressing room.
Araujo has regularly shown his leadership credentials and dedication to the club since he made his first-team debut in October 2019. There have been details such as jumping over the Barca badge on the Camp Nou pitch, and more tangible actions such as when he chose to undergo surgery for a thigh injury in September 2022 so he could return as soon as possible for the club — even though he risked missing the Qatar World Cup with Uruguay.
His situation this summer has been complicated. He left to play in the Copa America for his country when reports in Barcelona suggested they were ready to cash in on him to make a significant profit. Araujo’s knee injury at the tournament in the United States put paid to that idea, but led to an odd atmosphere over the summer.
Araujo hasn’t played for Barca since an injury at the Copa America (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Those three were already captains, with Pedri and Raphinha the two new additions.
At 21, Pedri is the youngest of the new leadership group. But dressing-room sources — who, like all those cited in this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships — say his calmness has made him like a big brother or godfather to many of the young players, especially Gavi.
Pedri has also connected with the veterans and immediately formed a bond with Messi and Busquets when he first signed from Las Palmas in 2020. He is seen as an emerging leader in the team and as a future first captain, with his decision-making and responsibility highlighted by those dressing-room sources.
Raphinha has won over the dressing room little by little, despite losing his starting spot on the right wing to Lamine Yamal last season. He has developed a good relationship with the 17-year-old Yamal. They looked for each other to celebrate each goal in the 7-0 win against Real Valladolid this month, dancing together in the corner after the first goal of Raphinha’s hat-trick.
He has shown himself to be a team player and reinvented himself as a left winger or even an attacking midfielder when he lost his place. He doesn’t have Yamal’s natural talent, but the club believe he’s shown impeccable attitude and is enjoying a promising run of form.
Raphinha was another of the players linked with a move away in reports this summer, but he remains committed to Barca. When he was signing a flag with the club crest for a fan during the Copa America with Brazil, he confronted another supporter who insulted the club, asking him to show respect.
The winger has earned the appreciation of his team-mates and fans, with the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys chanting “Captain, captain” when he touched the ball against Valladolid.
Raphinha’s rise is in stark contrast to Lewandowski. The 36-year-old is back to his best under new coach Hansi Flick, but his relationship with the rest of the dressing room has had its ups and downs in recent seasons. He could be seen blaming young players on the pitch after the 2022 World Cup, when he underwent a disappointing run of form.
Lewandowski is back to his best but wasn’t chosen as one of the captains (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lewandowski berated Ansu Fati for getting in his way as he shaped for a header in Barca’s Europa League play-off against Manchester United in February last year. Then, in a win against Deportivo Alaves in November, he appeared to ignore Yamal as the youngster offered him a handshake.
The Pole denied any tensions between the two players, but one of the reasons he no longer wanted Lewandowski at the club was because he felt he wasn’t a good influence on young players. Lewandowski’s camp previously declined to comment when this was put to them by The Athletic.
One player who the dressing room and club see as a future captain but who isn’t part of this current group is Gavi. The 20-year-old midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November, just as he was finding his best form and his voice behind the scenes.
He was Barca’s best player in their Clasico defeat in October and fronted up to the media afterwards. His status as a La Masia graduate also helps and the club take for granted that he will end up taking the armband at some point.
The changing of the guard reflects a time of transition for Barca. Places previously occupied by youngsters from the academy have been taken by non-Spanish players and Pedri.
But the Canary Islander embodies a young team who are trying to get back to their former glories under Flick. New talents are emerging that require new leaders.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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