salinas signed for fc barcelona for 1988–89, linking up with several other basque players, including veteran josé ramón alexanko, josé mari bakero, txiki begiristain and ion andoni goikoetxea – these would help form the backbone of the legendary "dream team". he scored 20 league goals in his debut campaign as "barça" finished second to real madrid, and he also netted in both the 1989 cup winners' cup final against u.c. sampdoria and in the following year's domestic cup 2–0 win over real madrid.