Barcelona identify 21-year-old as Robert Lewandowski replacement | OneFootball

Next summer, Barcelona will seek to sign a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, whose contract is up in June. But more pressingly, an immediate successor is needed, due to the Polish striker having suffered a hamstring tear during the international break.

Lewandowski is poised to miss 4-6 weeks of action, which means that he will not return until after the November international break. In that period, Barcelona face a number of important matches, none more so than El Clasico in just over a fortnight.

As things stand, Hansi Flick will have Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford as options to play as a number nine, but neither consider it to be their natural position. Because of this, he could look to La Masia to secure a temporary Lewandowski replacement.

As per Sport, Victor Barbera has emerged as a candidate to replace Lewandowski in the first team during his injury absence. The 21-year-old Barca Atletic striker left Barcelona in 2023, but re-signed 12 months later from Belgian side Club Brugge, and he has started the new season on good form.

Barbera, who is considered to be a “pure centre-forward of those who lives in the box and simplifies the game”, has registered five goals and one assist in six Barca Atletic matches so far this season, which is why he is considered to be best-placed to replace Lewandowski for the time being.

Barcelona unable to count on another possible option

Lewandowski is not the only Barcelona striker currently out injured, as this is also the case for Oscar Gistau. The 17-year-old, who is rated much higher than Barbera, would have been a leading candidate for a temporary first team promotion, but he is out for the next three months after undergoing knee injury.

It remains to be seen how Flick approaches the situation with Lewandowski’s temporary replacement, but given that he lacks a natural number nine, it would be no surprise to see someone like Barbera called upon.