WE EXPECT ARDA TURAN AND ALEIX VIDAL TO BOOST FC BARCELONA AS THE FIFA BAN ON THE CLUB FINALLY ENDS.
A subdued start to 2016 for Barcelona. Last season's treble winners were unable to beat city rivals Espanyol in the derby as La Liga got back underway in the New Year on Saturday, but good news is just around the corner as Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal are now available for selection.
Arda and Vidal both signed in the summer, but the two have had to wait patiently for an opportunity as timed ticked away on Barca's ban. The Catalan club did make a special request to Fifa for Turan to be able to feature after Rafinha suffered a serious injury back in September, but that plea was denied and the Turkey midfielder has had to wait.
Nolito, who started his career at Barca and is now making his name at Celta Vigo, is top of the club's list but will be difficult to sign in the winter window as the Galicians fight for a place in the Champions League. Another former Barca player, Villarreal's Denis Suarez, looks like a more realistic option.
And even if no more signings arrive, the enormous quality of Turan will hand Barca a significant boost, while Vidal is a player who can operate in several different positions, be it as a full-back, a winger or even a forward.
The timing could not be better. With draws against Valencia, Deportivo La Coruna and now Espanyol in La Liga in their last four Liga games, Barca need their new men to freshen things up and on the Reyes holiday (January 6), when presents are traditionally handed out in Spain, the Catalans can at long last pick their two summer signings. And that, they hope, will be a gift worth waiting for.
