How will Arda Turan be used by Luis Enrique in Barcelona's midfield?

Arda Turan can’t play for Barcelona until January 2016

Despite being unable to register players at this juncture, it hasn’t stopped Barcelona from utilising a loophole in FIFA’s transfer ban. First of all, right-back Aleix Vidal was secured from Sevilla when it seemed likely that Dani Alves would leave, and then hot on his heels came the stunning coup of tempting Turkish international Arda Turan from one of Barca’s rivals Atletico Madrid.

The impact of both signings couldn’t be more marked. Both players have chosen to join a club where they will have to sit on the bench for the best part of six months, including pre-season, rather than join another club. In Turan’s case, Chelsea were known to be interested. A high-quality exponent would prefer to train for six months rather than be playing from the get-go. It really is astonishing if we think about that for a moment.

It’s a move that has once again made FIFA a laughing stock and a potential ban for Real Madrid in the not too distant future will hold no fears for Los Blancos if this is how easy it is for clubs to work the legality of any ban. In any event, what Turan’s signing does is signals the intent from Barcelona that they are not going to sit back and lap up the plaudits for their treble win – they will be the team to beat and will be going for it all again.

Looking at last season as the barometer, it would be hard for any team to stop the Catalans from becoming the first in the modern era to retain the Champions League. We should remember too that it wasn’t until the second half of that season that Barca really got going. Almost everyone had written them off before Christmas, as Real went on a magnificent 22-game winning streak. Only to run out of steam.

The two new signings, and there are likely to be more, should have the effect of galvanizing Barca just at the right time. By then we’ll know if the Blaugrana have managed to pull off another sextuple, which has to be beyond what many football fans thought possible. Albeit, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao will have something to say about that.

But it’s precisely for this reason that Turan has joined. No, he can’t be a part of the matches this time, but who’s to say that his remarkable contributions won’t help Barca be right back in amongst it at the business end of next season.

Whose place will Turan take in Barcelona’s starting lineup?

Turan’s in-game intensity is legendary. No one works harder than the Turk to ensure the right result and he was absolutely a perfect fit for Diego Simeone’s Atleti squad.

Barca’s philosophy is different to Atleti’s, but Turan will have no problem adapting. Another facet to his game where he is often not given the credit he deserves is with his technical ability. He may not have the finesse of an Andres Iniesta or a Lionel Messi, but there’s more than one way to skin a rabbit. 23 goals in all competitions also bodes well and the player has made clear that he will be happy to ply his trade wherever Luis Enrique sees fit.

Will Iniesta (R) eventually make way for Turan to get into the starting lineup?

Nominally on the right side at Atleti Turan can also turn his hand to any of the attacking positions, but he’s more than likely going to be in a weekly battle with Iniesta or Rakitic for a starting berth on either side of a midfield trio. Four into three doesn’t go, so someone will play the fall guy. And that’s unlikely to be a player who the club have just shelled out £24.4 million on.

If there is one area that Luis Enrique loves above all others, bar a players’ technical ability, it is that penchant for graft – putting in a shift for the team. No excuses, just good old-fashioned hard work. Turan has that in abundance and whether there is truth in the manager asking for him directly or not, he could very quickly become one of Enrique’s most trusted lieutenants.

There are question marks that remain over his temperament, and Barca will have seen at first hand how tempestuous the Turk becomes when irate. Throwing a shoe at the linesman probably isn’t something best put on your CV. Like many other players, however, take away the fire that burns brightly and you get half the player.

Mind you, even half an Arda Turan would get in most teams in the division.

No quarter asked or given in any and every game. The term “warrior” is bandied about far too often these days when talking about players who dig in for the team. In some respects, it takes on an almost derogatory quality. That in some way a player who is schooled in the rough stuff can’t play a bit too.

Turan disproves the argument. Yes, he’ll meter out some punishment occasionally and he’ll happily take one for the team in return. But woe betide any opposition believing he is a one-trick pony because he will cut right through with that potent mixture of inventiveness, strength, determination and skill.

There aren’t too many players in world football presently that can improve this Barcelona of Luis Enrique. Turan is one of the few. Although the machinations of the deal to bring him to the club aren’t particularly edifying, there is little doubt that Barca have themselves a bargain. And one who is prepared to give absolutely everything in his pursuit of success.