Jordi Cruyff: ‘Barcelona is still special, players will lose money to be here’

After the success of Aubameyang and three other new signings, Barça’s sporting adviser explains how the club are turning a corner

Barcelona's Spanish forward Ferran Torres (R) celebrates with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) and Ousmane Dembele (C) after scoring a goal during the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona. Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images

“In the end, there is relief,” Jordi Cruyff says. “There’s a ‘pfff, thank goodness’. And if the signings then fit in and play well, you get a feeling of a job well done.” 

There was a minute to go before midnight on deadline day, clock running, when the paperwork finally arrived and Barcelona at last knew they could register Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, somehow securing a fourth January signing. Six weeks later, he scored twice and gave an assist for Ferran Torres, another winter arrival, in a 4-0 destruction of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. It was Aubameyang’s ninth goal since joining, Barcelona’s 12th game without defeat, a new start. A job well done, indeed.