One of the key reasons why Culers have had a ball watching Barcelona in action this season is due to the freshness added by the new signings and the youngsters continuing to thrive under the pressure.
With Xavi spearheading Barça's rebuild in the 2022/23 campaign in particular, it has been revealed that new changes in terms of the leadership core at the club could to be initiated next term.
As per a report by Javi Miguel on Culemania, it is mentioned that the club expect their current four captains – Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto – to leave in the summer of 2023.
Pique and Alba have both hardly played in the new season and are looking well past their prime, with there being little chance of them forcing their way back into the side.
In fact, recent reports claim that Barcelona are hoping that Pique ends up retiring at the end of the season after his relationship with manager Xavi became tense.
As for Alba, with Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso ahead of him in the pecking order, an exit could be on the cards next year. Meanwhile, both Busquets and Roberto will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
Keeping that in mind, it is likely that stand-in skippers such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Robert Lewandowski could get newfound leadership positions amongst the senior players next season.
As for the youngsters, Pedri and Ronald Araujo could become the other two captains to make up the leadership core next campaign.
It is believed that while Ousmane Dembele would also want to become one of the captains, the choice lies in the hands of the players, who are likely not to pick him.
Considering ter Stegen's experience in the dressing room combined with his upturn in form, he may be best placed to take over from Busquets as the club's captain, in case the legendary midfielder departs next summer.
While Lewandowski has just joined the club this summer, the Pole's standing in the game coupled with the respect he commands within the side makes him another ideal candidate for the role.
With Pedri and Araujo also said to be handed such major responsibilities, Barcelona are ultimately breeding future skippers, which speaks volumes of the long-term vision at hand.