Barcelona chose not to sign midfielders Luka Modric, Isco and Toni Kroos

The Barça of Guardiola was the best team in the world. And, possibly, one of the best in history.

It boasted a stellar cast in the middle of the pitch who excelled at technical football: Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. 

But all cycles must have a beginning and an end. 

And Barça, now without Guardiola on the bench, have failed to undertake the necessary generational change.

It is an error that they are now beginning to pay the consequences for.

The worst of all is that there where players on the market for Barça with the ideal profile to take part in the change.

However, they surprisingly dismissed the signings, thinking, perhaps, that the 'sacred cows' would be eternal.

It is a tremedous error by the sporting directors and the board.

Not least because these footballers have now strengthened a great rival: Real Madrid.

I am speaking of players like Modric, Isco and Kroos, who could now be triumphing at Barcelona like Xavi and Iniesta once did. 

Instead, they are the focus points of Ancelotti's Madrid.

In the summer of 2012, the Blaugrana turned down the idea of signing Modric, who instead signed for Madrid for €30million.

A year later, in 2013, the same happened with Isco (€30m) and then this summer it was Kroos' turn (€25m).

Barça did sign Rakitic and bring back Rafinha to begin the renovation, but it was already too late.

And it is not the same.

They have let three players, who could have been vital, escape and become three significant players for Los Blancos.

It is a demonstration of the pessimistic planning at the club on a sporting level, led, of course, by Zubizarreta.