The arrival of striker David Villa leaves Barcelona looking more like Spain FC as it begins its quest for a third consecutive league title.
Villa gives Barcelona eight players from Spain's World Cup winning team and, for coach Pep Guardiola, hope of adding further trophies to his already impressive tally going into only his third season in charge.
Still, despite the wealth of talent, this could be the 39-year-old coach's most formidable campaign as the Catalans are going through tough economic times, have an inexperienced bench, and a revitalized Madrid under Jose Mourinho in opposition.
Barcelona got off to a strong start with a Spanish Supercup win over Sevilla, thrashing the Andalucians 4-0 in the return leg for its first trophy of the campaign.
Barcelona has made it clear that ambition and desire will not be lacking despite their players having won just about every competition available since Spain's European Championship victory in 2008.
"I don't want to say that from this moment we will relax - not at all," midfielder Xavi Hernandez said after the World Cup triumph when asked about motivation. "I think we'll still want to win more (titles)."
Xavi and Andres Iniesta will orchestrate the attack and try to help Lionel Messi forget about the disappointment of Argentina in South Africa.
"My teammates were saying that the Jabulani (ball) at the World Cup didn't agree with me, but today I was able to score," Messi said after netting a hat-trick against Sevilla. "We've got no doubts about our team."
Villa has brought his scoring prowess to the Camp Nou to make up for the exit of Thierry Henry and the inconsistency of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Bojan Krkic the best threat by last season's end. But 40 million euros ($50 million) Villa was the only high-profile signing as Arsenal refused to sell Cesc Fabregas, leaving 10 million euros ($12.7 million) utility player Adriano as the other major addition.
Rumors abound not about whether Ibrahimovic will see out the next four seasons of his contract, but this season alone. AC Milan is thought to want the Sweden striker on a loan deal.
"There are always players who deserve to play. Here, we're looking to have a few players so that they all play," Guardiola reasoned. "With those we have, plus a hypothetical signing that could still arrive, and the youth academy we should be fine for this season."
Barcelona has been strongly linked with a move for Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, with Guardiola admitting that if a defensive midfielder such as the Argentine arrives, "the needs of the team will be resolved."
But Guardiola's defense looks thin following the departures of Rafael Marquez and Dmytry Chygrynskiy. Teenage midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos will likely get playing time following Yaya Toure's exit, while winger Jeffren Suarez's role will also be stepped up from last season. Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez are just two of the many players Guardiola has already successfully promoted to the first team.
Incoming Barcelona president Sandro Rossell spent little as the club announced losses of ?77 million ($98 million) following Joan Laporta's exit, preferring to focus on a public campaign to unsuccessfully land Fabregas.
Fabregas' arrival would have made it nine Barcelona players in Spain's World Cup winning roster after Villa, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Busquets, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
"I don't think Guardiola will allow us to relax," Busquets said. "If we don't win a title this season, it won't be from a lack of ambition."
And if not Guardiola, then surely Mourinho's Madrid will provide extra motivation.
Mourinho has been one of the few coaches to get the better of Barcelona during his days at Chelsea and Inter Milan, which beat the defending Champions League winners out last year on its way to victory. Mourinho now has his sights set on knocking the Catalans from their thrones as kings of Spain.
"It's going to be fun," Pique said of this season's "clasico" matches between the bitter rivals. "They are two different teams, with two different styles - even if Mourinho says they are offensive - with different trainers and two great teams."
