Lionel Messi is arguably the best participant within the historical past of Barcelona and arguably the best footballer ever – however how did the gamers who made their Barca debut in the identical season fare at Camp Nou?
A yr after his departure to PSG, it’s nonetheless arduous to understand Barcelona with out him. Messi made his senior aggressive debut all the best way again in October 2004, approaching as an 82nd-minute substitute in opposition to Espanyol – however he wasn’t the one participant to make their Barca bow that yr.
We’ve appeared again at each Barcelona participant who additionally made their debut in 2004-05 and the way they fared on the membership.
Sylvinho
He could also be recognized on these shores for his spell at Arsenal – and that howitzer at Stamford Bridge – however Sylvinho achieved loads of success in Spain.
Arriving from Celta Vigo for €2 million, the full-back gained three La Liga titles and two Champions League winner’s medals with Barca.
His remaining recreation for the membership got here within the 2009 remaining in opposition to Manchester United, the place Sylvinho performed the complete 90 minutes and helped neutralise Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juliano Belletti
Belletti was an everyday throughout his first season at Barcelona, making 39 appearances because the membership gained their first La Liga title since 1999.
However the future Chelsea full-back confronted stiff competitors from Oleguer for his place and was unable to get a constant run of video games thereafter.
The arrival of Gianluca Zambrotta in 2006 successfully ended Belletti’s profession at Camp Nou and he moved to Stamford Bridge a yr later.
Belletti solely scored one objective for Barca – the winner within the 2006 Champions League remaining.
🟡 Campbell 37’
🔵🔴 Eto’o 76’
🔵🔴 Belletti 80’#OnThisDay in 2006, Barcelona got here from behind to beat Arsenal and win the Champions League 🏆pic.twitter.com/IujZUe2mEJ— GOAL (@objective) Might 17, 2020
Ludovic Giuly
A stunning footballer in his prime, Giuly moved to Spain off the again of Monaco’s run to the 2004 Champions League remaining.
It was sufficient to make Barca pay €7million for the France worldwide and Giuly scored on his membership debut in opposition to Racing Santander.
He scored 11 targets in his debut season, regardless of struggling with accidents, fulfilling a promise to file double digits for his new membership.
Giuly performed an instrumental function in Barca’s 2006 Champions League triumph, scoring the one objective within the semi-final tussle with AC Milan and taking part in the complete 90 minutes in opposition to Arsenal in Paris.
However Messi’s improvement restricted his first-team appearances thereafter and Giuly moved to Roma in 2007.
Edmilson
Edmilson was the scorer of probably the most spectacular targets in World Cup historical past, netting an outrageous overhead kick for Brazil in opposition to Costa Rica in 2002.
There was none of that nonsense on the Camp Nou although, because the defender suffered from a string of accidents.
In 2004, €10million was a giant payment and Edmilson solely made six appearances in his first season in Spain. However he recovered sufficiently to play an essential function all through the 2005-06 marketing campaign.
Edmilson began the 2006 Champions League remaining however was withdrawn at half-time as Barca chased the sport. His substitute? 22-year-old Andreas Iniesta.
The Brazilian was launched following a disappointing 2007-08 season.
Deco
Fairly good at Barca. Probably even higher again in Brazil…
Samuel Eto’o
Maybe essentially the most underrated elite striker of his technology, Eto’o had been banging in targets for Actual Mallorca lengthy earlier than Barca got here calling in 2004.
And he was so good that his Actual Madrid previous was quickly forgotten. Eto’o scored 130 instances in 199 appearances for Barcelona, profitable eight main honours with the membership.
The Cameroon icon departed for Inter Milan in 2009, however stays a agency favorite with Barca followers.
Damia
Promoted from Barca’s B staff alongside Messi, it’s protected to say Damia had a barely completely different profession.
As a result of various accidents, Damia made his debut as an emergency right-back throughout a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao in October 2004.
Regardless of making 9 appearances in 2004-05, he might by no means absolutely break into the primary staff and ultimately moved to Actual Betis in 2006.
Damia additionally spent two years at Middlesbrough between 2014 and 2016, which we’re damned if we are able to bear in mind.
Ruben Martinez
As third-choice goalkeeper behind Víctor Valdes and Albert Jorquera, Martinez wouldn’t have anticipated to see a lot motion at Barcelona.
However the academy graduate was known as into motion in a vital away match at Valencia in December 2004 following Valdes’ purple card.
After serving to Barca safe a 1-1 draw, Martinez stored his place for the next win over Levante however that proved the excessive level of his spell with the La Liga giants.
Martinez was launched in 2008 and carved out a profession with the likes of Malaga, Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo La Coruna and Osasuna.
Henrik Larsson
Larsson didn’t keep lengthy, however made himself a Barcelona legend…
Javito
Javito’s profession by no means absolutely recovered from an early prognosis of thrombosis.
However the winger nonetheless managed to make one look for Barca, taking part in in a Champions League defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk in December 2004.
Well being points prevented Javito from turning into a full member of the Barcelona squad and he’s managed to have a nomadic profession with 9 golf equipment throughout Spain, Greece and Turkey.
Rodri
No, not the Ballon d’Or and World Cup-winning one.
This Rodri was a La Masia graduate that solely made two appearances for the primary staff. The centre-back performed three minutes as a late substitute throughout a win over Albacete and solely performed as soon as extra earlier than transferring to Deportivo in 2006.
He did not make a lot impression in A Coruna and Rodri had spells in locations as diversified as Moscow and Maritimo.
Rodri was final seen within the Spanish decrease leagues with Hospitalet.
Joan Verdu
One other participant who solely made a handful of appearances for Barca, Verdu grew to become a stable La Liga participant nonetheless.
His two video games for Barcelona included one Copa del Rey match and that Champions League defeat at Shakhtar. Verdu left for Deportivo in 2006, the place he capitalised on the decline of Juan Carlos Valeron to change into an essential a part of their staff.
The midfielder loved comparable success at Espanyol, cashing in on Ivan de la Pena’s damage issues to get pleasure from a four-year spell with Barca’s metropolis rivals.
Verdu additionally performed for Actual Betis, Fiorentina and Qingdao Huanghai within the Chinese language Tremendous League earlier than transferring to his present membership Montanesa.
Maxi Lopez
Following an damage to Henrik Larsson in January 2005, Barcelona signed Lopez from River Plate for €6.2million.
He made an prompt affect, scoring on his Champions League debut in opposition to Chelsea along with his first shot for the membership. Sadly, he solely rating yet one more Barca objective.
Lopez by no means broke into the membership’s first staff and was packed off to Actual Mallorca in 2006, earlier than making a everlasting transfer to FC Moscow a yr later.
The striker managed to pop up at Milan in 2012, however his most prolific spells have been with fellow Italian golf equipment Catania and Torino.
Serie C membership Sambenedettese have been Lopez’s membership in the course of the 2020-21 season.
Demetrio Albertini
No one makes 293 appearances for AC Milan with out being a bit good at soccer.
Albertini grew to become a membership legend throughout his 14 years on the San Siro and likewise represented Italy in 4 worldwide tournaments.
However the midfielder was 33 upon arriving at Barcelona in January 2005 and solely made 5 appearances for the membership earlier than retiring on the finish of the season.
Nonetheless, Albertini managed to win one other league title and play for one more of world soccer’s behemoths.
Honest play.
READ NEXT: The place are they now? The six gamers Lionel Messi instructed Barcelona to promote in 2019
TRY A QUIZ: Are you able to title Barcelona’s high ‘not Messi’ scorer for each season since 2000?
