I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 448 - 75: Barcelona

El Clásico refers to the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid has been in splendid form lately, defeating their ’nemesis’ Lyon in the Champions League, overcoming Bordeaux, and amidst controversy, successfully advancing to the Champions League semi-finals. In the King’s Cup, they have also made impressive progress, reaching the finals.

In the league, they maintain their dominance over Barcelona, topping the table and widening the points gap to seven.

It seems like they too want to try what the taste of the ’Triple Crown’ feels like.

Although Real Madrid has not officially won any championships yet, if Barcelona cannot defeat Real Madrid in this El Clásico, it would almost be certain to declare Real Madrid as the league champions in advance.

After all, Pellegrini has been known for his ’stability’ since the beginning, especially in league matches, where his steadiness can make one’s scalp tingle.

This has led to this match receiving an astonishing amount of attention.

Many people have started analyzing the strengths and weaknesses between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

First, there’s Barcelona.

This season, they’ve brought in several strong players, like the Serie A marquee star Zlatan Ibrahimovic — the Swede who previously played for Inter Milan and, despite Mourinho’s persistent ’pleading’, resolutely joined Barcelona. At the start of the season, he performed exceptionally well, with a high scoring efficiency.

But now, he has become a ’tumor’ for Barcelona, and due to the positional clash with Messi and changes in tactical status, his performance has declined.

Yet even so, within limited time, the Swede could deliver goals in some crucial battles to ’reverse the heavens’ for Barcelona. It is precisely because of Ibrahimovic’s performance that makes it difficult for Guardiola to handle this ’tumor’.

Some even say that it’s not just once they’ve heard Guardiola muttering to himself, "How do I handle you, Zlatan?"

In Barcelona, only players from La Masia are the most ’important’; others, whether Henry, Ibrahimovic, or Eto’o, are considered more like ’side dishes’.

Ibrahimovic’s biggest mistake might have been treating Barcelona like an ordinary team, thinking he could integrate seamlessly with his abilities.

However, in reality, prejudice is like a mountain in the heart, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t move it.

Not being a La Masia graduate is Ibrahimovic’s original sin, and Barcelona, rather than a team, is more like a ’La Masia big family’, with the coach as the parent and players as the obedient children.

At least, that’s how it seems now.

At this point, Ibrahimovic has faintly realized this, but he still holds a sliver of hope, thinking he might be different, until later...

Even in the future, when Pique calls out for a group photo with the players and another newly joined player wants to join the photo, Pique says, "You can’t be in the picture; this is a La Masia members’ photo, and you cost us too much in transfer fees."

That’s the reason Ibrahimovic would express his dissatisfaction.

Another issue is Yaya Toure’s situation. Yaya Toure hopes to get more playtime, but Barcelona’s starting positions are firmly held by ’La Masia’ players.

Yaya Toure is currently more of a backup for Busquets, but this player won’t be content as a substitute, and every time Yaya Toure goes to see Guardiola, Guardiola and Toure have their ’discussions’ about the problem.

Yes, Guardiola ’communicates’, because when Guardiola took over, he said anyone could come directly to his office to talk; he’s willing to discuss issues with you.

But regarding Yaya Toure, he has never given a direct response, always speaking off-topic.

This leaves Yaya Toure disillusioned.

Yaya Toure is a versatile midfielder with excellent physical attributes, and his stats are very balanced. Every time he sees Chen Zhong playing on the field, it’s like a fire burning inside him.

He’s black, Chen Zhong is Asian.

Logically, he’s physically superior, and if Barcelona could give him opportunities like they give Chen Zhong, his performance wouldn’t be worse and might even be better.

This thought lingers like a curse in Yaya Toure’s mind.

But every communication with Guardiola ends with evasive responses.

From a ’crude’ perspective, it’s because Yaya Toure isn’t from La Masia, making Yaya Toure feel more and more disheartened.

Ibrahimovic and Yaya Toure are also factors contributing to Barcelona’s fluctuating performance.

Of course, these are all personal thoughts of the players.

Guardiola’s thinking, however, is quite simple.

A player, regardless of public perception or technical skills, once they come to Barcelona, will truly know what’s what.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish striker, was the top star in Serie A, tall, flexible, and technically proficient.