The wait is now over. After five years of constant speculation, Barcelona yesterday announced the signing Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu, the first centre-back since Shakhtar Donetsk's Dmytro Chygrynskiy made the move to Catalonia back in 2009.
Theoretically, the arrival of a defender was supposed to be cause for celebration amongst Cules – the constant need to use makeshift defenders had taken its toll on the club, and recent failures on the biggest stages only further reinforced the need for a natural centre-back.
But the Frenchmen's transfer is somewhat underwhelming. For the club to have previously been linked with a top class defender, the likes of Mats Hummels and Thiago Silva, only then to opt for a decent defender is, many believe, a backward step and a betrayal of the club's often forward-thinking outlook.
Mathieu is no longer the young soul he once was, and at 30 years of age, is seemingly entering the twilight of his career. The fact that Barcelona paid an excessive €20m for his signature and offered a four-year contract with the option for a fifth borders on the absurd, and it feels like the transfer was an obligatory acquisition.
Perhaps more importantly though is the defender's lack of experience at the highest level, and his previous clubs, the likes of Valencia, Toulouse and Sochaux are a far cry from the pressure of Barcelona. His untested nature on the big stage is worrying, so too are the mere two international caps to his name.
It's not only the fans who are fuming though, with the Press sharing the same sentiment as those who opposed the transfer. “The managing of Mathieu’s signing has been a disaster,” fumes Lluís Mascaró, a journalist for Sport. “(The signing is) bad enough to bring about the firing of the sporting director, or whoever was responsible.”
There is a brighter side to this transfer, though. While most would much rather witness the prospect Pique and his younger counterpart, Marc Bartra, take centre stage, Mathieu's contribution to an inferior Valencia side shouldn't be overlooked. His consistency at the back is a trait Barcelona have so often lacked.
Mathieu’s 70% tackle success rate is much higher than Pique's dwindling 59%. Furthermore, he exerts leadership qualities that the team needs, and could fill the void left behind by Carles Puyol. His exploits in leading Valencia to a Europa League semi-finals berth last season is a case in point.
Mathieu clearly wasn't the signing Barca fans may have been hoping for. Indeed, his CV may not be as accomplished as the recently crowned world champion Hummels, nor is he held in similar esteem to Silva.
Yet, Mathieu isn't a token signing – what he lacks in reputation, he makes up for with his industrious nature. No one can deny his attitude to the game is top class, and should he strike up a relationship with Pique, Barca's latest signing might just turn out OK.
