Hansi Flick picks Karim Adeyemi's role in Barcelona attack
Hansi Flick has decided Karim Adeyemi will operate as a winger at Barcelona, not as a centre-forward. After four pre-season friendlies in which Flick tested five different players in the No. 9 role without once using Adeyemi there, reports indicate the €22 million signing is ahead of Anthony Gordon for Sunday's La Liga opener against Elche.
Key Takeaways
- According to SPORT, Flick sees Adeyemi as a winger and does not intend to use him as Barcelona's central attacking reference.
- Mundo Deportivo reports Adeyemi could start against Elche in a front three with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as a false nine.
- Adeyemi played 79 minutes against Basel and was directly involved in two of Barcelona's five goals.
- Barcelona signed the German forward from Borussia Dortmund through 2031 for €22 million plus €7 million in add-ons.
- The club remains in the market for a specialist centre-forward while Flick experiments with other options through the middle.
Why Has Hansi Flick Ruled Out Adeyemi as Barcelona's Striker?
Karim Adeyemi's career record shows he can play through the middle, yet Flick has not once turned to the German as his striker during pre-season. That appears to be a deliberate choice.
During four friendly matches, Flick experimented with five different options in the striker position. Hamza Abdulkarim, Raphinha and Anthony Gordon were among the senior players used through the middle, alongside two academy prospects. Adeyemi was absent from that list every time.
According to SPORT, Flick wants to use Adeyemi's pace, direct running and ability to attack space from the wing rather than placing him between opposition centre-backs. Unless Barcelona are left with no other option, the coach does not intend to use him as the central reference in attack.
Who Could Start in Barcelona's Attack Against Elche?
Barcelona's friendly against Basel may have offered Flick his clearest selection clue ahead of the La Liga opener against Elche on August 23. According to Mundo Deportivo, as reported by Yahoo Sports, Adeyemi is currently ahead of Gordon in the race for a place in the starting XI.
The outlet suggests a potential front three: Adeyemi starting from the left, Lamine Yamal on the right, and Raphinha moving centrally as a false nine. Gordon, who arrived later than others, is still catching up in match fitness and training.
For more on how squad decisions are shaping the season's early headlines, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
How Did Adeyemi's Basel Performance Shift the Pecking Order?
Adeyemi played 79 minutes in Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Basel and was directly involved in two of the five goals. In the first half he started on the right, with Raphinha as a false nine and Gordon on the left. After the break he switched to the left while Hamza Abdulkarim moved into the central role.
He opened the scoring by moving inside from the right and finishing Raphinha's pass. Later, from the left, he delivered a precise cross for Abdulkarim to score at the far post. When Lamine Yamal entered in the 65th minute, the teenager moved to the right wing while Adeyemi remained on the left.
What Does Adeyemi's Role Mean for Barcelona's Striker Search?
Barcelona signed Adeyemi until 2031 for €22 million, with a further €7 million possible in variables. He joined Flick's squad on July 24 after more than two months without competing.
If Adeyemi were viewed as a long-term solution in the middle, the club's urgency to sign another striker would be less obvious. Instead, Flick acknowledged after the Gamper Trophy that Barcelona "are looking for" a centre-forward, and the sporting department continues to explore the market, as Barca Universal reported.
Until that signing arrives, options such as Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Raphinha and Gordon through the middle have all been considered ahead of Adeyemi in central areas. Flick's pre-season experiments suggest Adeyemi's future at Camp Nou lies on the flanks, with his Basel form putting him at the front of the queue for Sunday's kickoff.