Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has hinted the club could do more transfer business before the end of the summer's transfer window.
- Transfer Talk: AC Milan near Torres; Arsenal focused on Falcao
- Ledwith: Barcelona can expect to progress
Barca have already spent over 150 million euros this summer on players including Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Claudio Bravo, Marc Andre ter-Stegen, Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen, with Brazilian right-back Douglas the latest to arrive in a deal worth around 5.5 million euros.
The Camp Nou outfit being so busy this summer is no surprise given they will not be able to sign any further players until January 2016 unless CAS overturn the one year transfer ban recently imposed by FIFA due to irregularities in youth transfers.
Speaking at the Champions League draw in Monaco, the former Barca goalkeeper said on Canal Plus that he could not rule out more money being spent this summer.
"We are working so that we have the best team possible, and so that on Sept. 2 we can say that we have the team we have," Zubizarreta said. "In the last hours many things have been moving. The market is active. A lot of things are done here [at the draw]."
Asked about former Sao Paulo player Douglas, 24, who Catalan pundits have doubted is better than either of the club's current right-backs Dani Alves or Martin Montoya, Zubi said the idea was to give coach Luis Enrique more options for the position.
"We wanted another full-back, another option, further competition," he said. "They are different types of full-backs."
Douglas in front of the Barça crest at the Club offices #DouglasFCB pic.twitter.com/BD9CZG79tQ
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 29, 2014
Meanwhile new Barca midfielder Rakitic has told his club's website that he and his teammates face a tough task at Villarreal on Sunday in La Liga.
"It'll be difficult because [Villarreal coach] Marcelino makes his teams work very hard," Rakitic said. "But we just have to focus on ourselves. We're very positive about the trip."
The 20 million-euro signing from Sevilla said he and the other new arrivals including Claudio Bravo and Jeremy Mathieu had done well in their first official game in last Sunday's 3-0 home win over Elche.
"It is very important for people to realise that we're making progress," he said. "There have been a lot of changes to the team in every area, but you can tell that we're constantly improving."
Rakitic: "The most important thing is that we're getting better" http://t.co/k74h8KxdSg pic.twitter.com/Xfd6UqDECU
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 28, 2014
Asked if he had received any specific instructions from Luis Enrique about how to fit in to his new team, the Croatia international said he had been encouraged to shoot from long distance.
"He has told me to shoot from outside the area," Rakitic added. "That's one of my defining characteristics and with the style of play that we have, it can be a useful solution."