3 things Barcelona is doing better than Real Madrid

Barcelona are proactive about signing affordable depth

Real Madrid will land a big fish in Kylian Mbappe this summer, and he alone can make a big difference. But a third forward is not the only need for Los Blancos. This club has holes at right back and in their lack of depth at just about every position. They could use a new backup striker, a new left-footed right winger, another backup midfielder, and another backup center back.

Madridistas know there are several good free agents or other budget signings who could help this team from a depth perspective. But whereas Real are resting on their laurels, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is the one going out there and making things happen.

This winter transfer window, he made some big moves. He brought in Ferran Torres to change the dynamic on the wings, and he also signed Aubameyang for free to solve his striker problem. Real do not usually make winter signings, so the real issue is the early approach to the summer.

Teams can already secure players on pre-contracts, and Barcelona are closing in on a trio of upgrades in midfielder Franck Kessie, center back Andreas Christensen, and right back Noussari Mazraoui, who could have been a big signing for Real Madrid.

All three players will be free, and all three of them are capable of starting matches for La Blaugrana in 2022/23. These are exactly the kind of signings that Barça should be making. Each of these players can grow from here, and they have high floors in the sense that, at worst, they would be significant upgrades over what the team currently has at these positions.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid has Mbappe in the bag and nobody else from a depth perspective. That’s a problem, and it shows complacency juxtaposed with a proactive, urgent approach from Laporta and Barcelona.