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It seems like an eternity ago that the world was questioning FC Barcelona's backline; this season, the turnaround under Luis Enrique has been nothing short of remarkable. From a point of weakness to one of our key strengths; a solid defense has proven to be the foundation behind our relative success this season. Indeed, Barcelona's defense is statistically one of the very best in Europe, yet a few short months ago, Cules were clamouring for big-name defensive reinforcements.
After failing in their pursuit of Thiago Silva all throughout the Pep Guardiola era and even into the Tito Vilanova reign, Barcelona were supposed to be in the market for a superstar defender -- and the rumour mills turned their attention to a FIFA World Cup winner, Jerome Boateng. Initial reports suggested that Barcelona were in talks with Bayern Munich to bring the versatile centre-half to the Camp Nou, but ultimately nothing ever materialised and Barca had to settle for paying through the nose for Valencia's utility man, Jeremy Mathieu and ... shudders ... Arsenal captain and perennial sick-note, Thomas Vermaelen.
We chalked it up to another false alarm from the tabloid media, but in the past day the player himself, Jerome Boateng, has spoken to Bild in Germany and confirmed that there was an offer on the table from Barcelona. The details are unconfirmed, but Boateng spoke of "an enquiry" and then poured cold water over it all by revealing that he "never really considered it".
Oh well, what might have been huh?
