Flick confident Barcelona’s attack can lead to La Liga title after Julian Alvarez’s failed transfer | OneFootball

Hansi Flick is not allowing Barcelona’s failure to sign Julian Alvarez to become an excuse in the club’s pursuit of another third successive La Liga title.

According to SPORT, the Barcelona manager is confident that his squad has enough depth and attacking explosiveness to compete at the top of the table, even after the club’s long pursuit of the Argentine forward ended without a deal.

Alvarez had been Barcelona’s preferred option to reinforce the No.9 position. 

The pursuit became one of the defining transfer stories of the summer, particularly after Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres both left in the same window.

Understandably, signing Alvarez would have provided Flick with the centre-forward reinforcement Barcelona wanted. Instead, the manager has had to find another solution.

Fortunately, the answer has been remarkably effective so far.

Raphinha gives Flick a different attacking solution

Raphinha has scored five goals already this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona have started the season with Raphinha operating as a false nine, and the early numbers suggest Flick has little reason to panic over the missing No.9.

The season has begun with Raphinha installed at the front of this Barça attack, who in three games has scored 12 goals, five of which have come from the Barça captain. 

That attacking output has given Barcelona a collective and individual lift at the start of the campaign.

The Brazilian’s role also fits Flick’s tactical demands, as Raphinha can lead the press from the front, allowing Barcelona to maintain the aggressive approach without the ball.

Furthermore, Lamine Yamal adds another source of unpredictability. 

His start to the new campaign has not been as explosive as some might have expected, but his performance against Rayo Vallecano showed that his ability to create danger remains intact whenever he gets the ball in dangerous areas.

Gordon and Adeyemi give Barcelona more options

Anthony Gordon’s arrival has helped Hansi Flick in moving Raphinha into the central area. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona’s recruitment has also helped Flick influence the attack without Alvarez.

Anthony Gordon provides a profile similar to Raphinha, while Karim Adeyemi offers something different: more speed, greater emphasis on one-on-one situations and a preference for attacking space rather than always demanding the ball to feet.

Those additions allowed Flick to move Raphinha into the false-nine role without losing the qualities that make his attack dangerous.

Lastly, Gabriel Jesus was not the marquee No.9 signing Barcelona originally wanted, but the circumstances made the deal difficult to ignore.

At 29, he still has significant top-level experience and his technical profile is considered compatible with Flick’s approach.