Flick's Raphinha gamble reshapes Barcelona's striker debate
- Source
- Mundo DeportivoLocal press
- By
- Hèctor Coca Gros
- Published
Key points
- Raphinha deployed as centre-forward has transformed Barcelona's attack after Lewandowski and Ferran Torres departures
- Barcelona scored 26 goals in opening six matches, their best start since 1950
- Flick's tactical shift raises question: should Barcelona pursue pure No. 9 or persist with false nine?
AI summary
Hansi Flick's decision to repurpose Raphinha as a central striker has turned what looked like a summer recruitment crisis into a tactical masterstroke. With Gordon, Lamine and Adeyemi providing width, the Brazilian has thrived in an unfamiliar role, helping Barcelona reach a scoring rate unseen since the 1950s.
The success has sparked debate over Barcelona's attacking identity. Gabriel Jesús waits in reserve, and the club could revisit a move for Julián Alvarez in January. Yet Raphinha's form suggests Flick may have found something more valuable than a conventional centre-forward.
Original headline
El debate del '9' puro: ¿Cómo juega mejor el Barça?
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