5 Barcelona players with the least minutes played in the 2021-22 season
Barcelona started the 2021-22 campaign on a bitter note. The departure of their most beloved player and captain Lionel Messi sent shockwaves among the club and its supporters.
Messi's absence was reflected in the team's poor performances and manager Ronald Koeman was constantly under fire. He was eventually sacked in November and the club had to resort to its former legend Xavi. The arrival of Xavi as the team's head coach has slowly started to pull things back for the Catalans.
The team that once struggled mid-table is now within touching distance of second-placed Sevilla. They are just three points behind Sevilla with a game in hand.
Xavi made smart signings in the month of January and he has been utilizing his players wisely. The same has been providing Blaugrana with the desired results.
Some key players have helped Xavi bring Barca back to glory this season. But let's also take a look at the players who have played the least for the club so far this season.
5. Martin Braithwaite - 248
Barcelona signed Martin Braithwaite from Leganes on an emergency basis outside the transfer window in February 2020. He was intended to replace the injury-prone Ousmane Dembele at the Camp Nou.
Apart from being an added support in the final third, there wasn't much that was expected from the Danish. However, things changed the following season. In his first full season at the club (2020-21), Brathwaite played in 42 games across all competitions. He could only score seven goals and make four assists during that time.
However, after the Catalan club's opening game of the latest season, Brathwaite suffered a knee injury and was sidelined for nearly four months.
4. Sergio Agüero - 165
Sergio Aguero's tale at Camp Nou has to be one of the most saddening sagas in the world of football. After enduring a decade-long scintillating spell at Manchester City, Aguero joined Blaugrana last summer to join his national teammate and close friend, Lionel Messi.
Much to the shock of Aguero and also the club's fans, Messi had to quit the Catalan and eventually join Paris Saint-Germain. The former Manchester City striker was then marred by injuries that delayed his debut at the Catalan club.
On 18th October 2021, Aguero marked his Barcelona debut as a late cameo against Valencia. In total, the Argentine made four appearances for the club before retiring from football due to cardiac arrhythmia. The 33-year-old's career was cut short by health issues but he received a hero's farewell from football fraternity from around the world.
Aguero's only full-game came in the club's loss to Rayo Vallecano on 28th October 2021.
Sergio Agüero will retire from football due to his heart condition, reports @gerardromero.
There will be a press conference next week to announce his retirement.
What a career 👏 https://t.co/jW9TFGskyQ