Barcelona

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Barcelona (巴塞罗那)
Alias(es)	Barça
Type	Neutral Character (AI)
Affiliation	Barcelona and the Catalonia region 405 475
Occupation/Role	Professional football club
Home Ground	Camp Nou 393 411
Status	Active 1008 1009
First Appearance	Chapter 214

History

Gaspar-era instability

Under President Gaspar, Barcelona repeatedly changed managers without improving results. The club endured internal disorder, lost Fàbregas to Arsenal, nearly let Iniesta leave, and left Messi considering a loan move. 281

Rijkaard's retention after the winter break marked a turnaround. He developed a system suited to the squad, revived Ronaldinho, improved the defense, and led a sustained rise in league form. 242 281

Su Dong era

To finance Su Dong's signing, Barcelona sold much of its reserve depth, including Gerard, Sergio García, Kluivert, Cocu, Reiziger, Luis García, and Quaresma. The move created concerns over bench depth and an already vulnerable defensive line. 317

The team nevertheless became a major force under Rijkaard. Barcelona returned to the Champions League final after an eleven-year absence, then celebrated a Champions League victory and a Treble. 393 475 By the following season, the club had already won the Champions League twice in succession. 483

Su Dong became the club's most important sporting and commercial figure. Laporta planned to make him Barcelona's highest-paid player, while nearly two of every three Barcelona shirts sold were reported to be Su Dong's number 9 jersey. 393 411

Board conflict and Su Dong's departure

Barcelona's board faced repeated factional disputes involving Laporta, Rosell, and Bartomeu. Laporta's presidency was challenged through impeachment proceedings, which ultimately led to a court-ordered new election. 475 481

After Su Dong's contract details were leaked, his agent Jorge Mendes stated that the player felt unfairly treated and was exploring an exit. 485 Rosell later announced that Barcelona and Su Dong had agreed to terminate his contract; Su Dong became a free agent on January 1, 2007. 496

Later accounts from Soriano held that Rosell and Bartomeu had effectively forced Su Dong out, a decision that damaged both the team and its commercial appeal. 602 1009

Post-Su Dong period

Following Su Dong's departure, Messi assumed a larger role, though he felt increasingly marginalized as management promoted Bojan as the next leader of Barcelona's new generation. 521 527

Barcelona remained dangerous in Europe, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals unbeaten with six wins and two draws, despite falling out of the La Liga title race. 569

José Mourinho was later appointed head coach in a controversial break from Barcelona's traditional coaching lineage. 596 His team won La Liga and the Copa del Rey while retaining elements of the club's technical, possession-based identity. 671

Honours

Competition / Achievement	Documented result
Catalonia Cup	Won during preseason preparations 317
Gamper Trophy	Won, with Su Dong playing a major role 317
Spanish Super Cup	Defeated Real Betis 5–1 on aggregate 414
La Liga	Won two consecutive titles under Mourinho's era 747
Copa del Rey	Won under Mourinho 671
UEFA Champions League	Reached the final after an eleven-year absence, later won consecutive titles and completed a Treble 393 475 483

Football Philosophy

Possession and pressing

Barcelona's defining identity is a possession-based, technical style built on passing, movement, and aggressive pressing after losing the ball. 569 571 575

A Champions League goal against Celtic illustrated this approach: Barcelona completed nineteen consecutive passes before Xavi scored. 569

• The team uses full-field pressing and counter-pressing to recover possession quickly. 575 744
• Its attacking structure relies on patient circulation until a gap appears in the opposition defense. 747
• The style depends heavily on collective morale, positional discipline, and players maintaining patience under pressure. 747
• High-possession football can become a weakness when the team is forced to chase a match or cannot find a decisive breakthrough player. 747 748

Rijkaard's system

Rijkaard established the tactical foundation of Barcelona's revival by activating Ronaldinho, improving defensive organization, and building a side capable of sustained winning runs. 281

His established lineup featured Víctor Valdés; Van Bronckhorst, Marcos, Puyol, and Belletti; Marcos Senna, Deco, and Xavi; plus Ronaldinho, Su Dong, and Giuly. 411

Mourinho's adaptation

Mourinho retained Barcelona's technical base but introduced a more pragmatic structure. He often used a 4-4-2 instead of the traditional 4-3-3, pairing Xavi and Iniesta with more defensive midfielders such as Seydou Keita and Yaya Touré. 671

• Strengths — defensive emphasis, aggressive pressing, and effective results in domestic competitions. 671
• Criticism — possession statistics and the club's traditional identity were considered diluted compared with Rijkaard's era. 671
• Internal divide — Cruyff and other traditional Barcelona figures opposed Mourinho's approach even after his success. 596 671

Youth Development

Barcelona places increasing importance on homegrown players and academy development. Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta became central local figures, while Messi's emergence increased attention on youth prospects such as Bojan. 466

• Messi — Barcelona supported his medical treatment and development, but the club's commitment was tied to its belief in his exceptional potential. 214
• Iniesta — Nearly lost during the club's unstable period, later became one of the midfield's core players. 281 446
• Bojan — Treated by management as a potential successor after Su Dong's departure. 521
• Tiago — Received limited first-team opportunities under Mourinho, contributing to Manchester City's interest in signing him. 801
• Bellerín — A highly regarded La Masia prospect whose path was blocked by Dani Alves' presence. 801

Commercial and Social Role

Barcelona is portrayed as more than a football club within Catalonia, carrying cultural, business, and political significance. 405 475

• The club's Asian tour greatly expanded commercial income and brand visibility, particularly because of Su Dong's popularity. 317 411
• Barcelona's North American tour produced sold-out matches, major ticket revenue, and new sponsorship opportunities. 482
• The club partnered with UNICEF through a Tenerife charity event, using the relationship both for charitable work and to explore a front-of-shirt sponsorship breakthrough. 441
• Barcelona donated to an orphanage in Tenerife; Su Dong contributed books and emphasized the importance of knowledge. 441
• The club moved its training operations to a more advanced Camp Nou base, aiming to create a world-class facility in both infrastructure and personnel. 411

Financially, Barcelona experienced both growth and pressure. The club was described as constrained by transfer debt and Camp Nou construction costs, limiting its ability to spend on reinforcements. 388 Earlier, Soriano's financial management had helped transform Barcelona from a heavily indebted club into one of Europe's highest-earning sides. 602

Key Rivalries and Matches

Real Madrid

Barcelona's 5–0 victory over Real Madrid was identified as a defining match in the development of its full-field pressing, attacking football. 571

Bayern Munich

Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich in a Champions League Round of 16 tie led by Su Dong, although the team relied unusually heavily on direct balls to him after Bayern restricted Deco and Xavi in midfield. 376

In a later Champions League meeting against Bayern, Barcelona maintained almost sixty-five percent possession but struggled to penetrate a tightly organized Bayern defense. 575

Manchester City

Manchester City became Barcelona's tactical mirror and ideological rival under Guardiola, Soriano, Begiristain, and several former Barcelona-linked figures. Cruyff described City as the more authentic inheritor of Barcelona football. 995 1009

Manchester City defeated Barcelona 3–2 in the European Super Cup, with Su Dong scoring twice and assisting once. City also won the possession battle 54–46, a result viewed as especially humiliating by the Barcelona media. 916

Relationships

• Frank Rijkaard — Head coach during Barcelona's revival; developed the side's successful tactical system and led it through its return to the Champions League final. 281 393
• Joan Laporta — President during the Su Dong-led successes; pursued contract renewals, commercial expansion, and consolidation of board power. 393 411 475
• Sandro Rosell — Former vice-president and later president; oversaw the agreement that ended Su Dong's Barcelona contract. 475 496
• Josep Bartomeu — Board figure involved in later transfer strategy and efforts to bring Guardiola back from Manchester City. 569 1009
• Su Dong — Former superstar and commercial centerpiece; helped deliver consecutive Champions League titles before leaving amid board conflict. 411 483 496
• Lionel Messi — Academy-developed star and attacking leader after Su Dong's departure; retained mixed feelings toward the club despite gratitude for its support. 214 521
• Xavi and Iniesta — Core midfield partnership and essential representatives of Barcelona's technical, possession-based identity. 671
• Johan Cruyff — Legendary club figure who opposed Mourinho's appointment and argued that Guardiola's Manchester City better represented Barcelona's traditional football. 596 912 995
• José Mourinho — Controversial head coach whose results earned board support despite disputes over his deviation from Barcelona's established style. 671 912