Hansi Flick sparks debate by starting €10m Barcelona player who shines vs Celta Vigo | OneFootball

It has been three months since the start of the 2025/26 season, and FC Barcelona still do not know who their first-choice striker is. Of course, injuries have played a part in this, but the wavering form of Lewandowski and Ferran Torres does not help.

The Pole, now 37, has had his fair share of physical problems so far this season. In his absence, Ferran Torres has stepped up and excelled in a role he has occupied ever since Hansi Flick came to Barcelona.

However, having recovered from injury and played a few minutes against Club Brugge, Lewandowski got the nod against Celta. According to MARCA, Hansi Flick’s decision to start the Pole and his hat-trick against Celta has sparked further debate in the front line.

Flick will yet again have to answer the question: Does he trust Lewandowski or Ferran in big games? So far, the only big game when the German manager had both strikers available was against PSG, and he went with the Spaniard.

However, as improved as Ferran is, he is no Lewandowski. He does not have the same physical presence or box threat as the veteran. When it comes to playing against deep blocks, which is most often the case in La Liga, the €10 million-rated Pole shades the Spaniard.

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The problem with Lewandowski is that his minutes have to be managed. He is at the stage of his career where playing two games in three days will take a toll on him. Barcelona need to pick and choose his starts.

A fresh Lewandowski can give strikers around the world a run for their money. In the final few months of his contract with the Catalan club, it is still not clear whether an extension features in Barcelona’s plans.

The next few months should help Flick identify more clearly which games call for Ferran and which for Lewandowski. For Barcelona’s sake, let us hope both players continue to score and give the German manager a nice headache to have.