Arda must improve next season to save Barça future

Arda must improve next season to save Barça future

Arda Turan can expect a very difficult season at Barça after his poor debut campaign at the Camp Nou.

Although Luis Enrique never says a bad word about the former Atletico Madrid midfielder, behind close doors he is uneasy as the Turk has failed to adapt to the team thus far. The major challenge that will face the coaching staff from July 19 is to recover the confidence of Arda, but he has to put a lot of effort into this himself.

To begin with, he must return to Catalonia with a new attitude. His first words when he left Atletico was that he was "tired" of the running under Diego Simeone's system, and when he eventually made his Blaugrana debut on January 6 those words had clearly come to the fore.

The five months of absence due to FIFA transfer sanctions on the club cost him too much game time and the chance to get used to Barça's style of play. Arda responded to the criticism claiming that he wasn't playing in his natural position.

Barça's coaching team have prepared a plan for Arda that includes strict monitoring of his metabolism. The 29-year-old needs a greater physical workload in the gym and to maintain a more civilised life off the pitch if he's to force his way into Enrique's plans for the upcoming season.