From pivot to poacher: Barcelona target Etta Eyong’s rapid adaptation | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have been linked with a long list of potential replacements for Robert Lewandowski. The Pole is 37 years old and not getting any younger. He is in the final few months of his contract with the Catalan club.

Everything points to the Pole departing at the end of the season. Even though he continues to be razor sharp in front of goal, injuries have started to become frequent, and there is a tendency to taper off as the season wears on.

Among the many names Barcelona are linked with as a potential striker option, one is Karl Etta Eyong. The Levante forward has been making waves with his performances so far this season and could make the move to the Catalan club.

An interesting anecdote has emerged about the 22-year-old. The 22-year-old Cameroonian arrived in Spain at 18 and spent his early years playing exclusively as a pivot. His first steps at Cadiz saw him positioned in midfield, but it was only more than a year later that he was given the chance to play as a forward.

Cadiz’s coaching staff had doubts about Eyong’s future. Alberto Cifuentes, the Spanish coach who first shaped him, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, recalls that Eyong was physically strong but tactically uncertain and technically limited.

“He was very strong physically, but tactically he struggled to find his position, and technically he was a bit weak.”

In training, Eyong immediately showed potential in goal-scoring exercises. Cifuentes explains that he was fast, had a natural instinct for finishing in the box, and performed well under pressure.

“In small-sided goal exercises, he scored a lot and finished well, so we put him as a striker. We knew he would perform well under pressure because he’s very fast, and he had a knack for scoring in the box. We proposed it to him, and he agreed.”

Eyong embraced the challenge and began intensive striker-specific drills, often staying behind after teammates had finished. The coaching staff focused on teaching him how to make effective runs, attack the near post, and win duels against central defenders.

“He’s a spectacular guy, always listens. When he arrived, he learned Spanish very quickly.”

The transition was not without difficulties. Eyong had to adjust to playing with his back to goal, a completely new perspective after playing years as a midfielder.

“He had spent 18 years playing as a midfielder, and we started asking him to play with his back to the opponent’s goal. Since he’s very fast, he quickly understood how to make runs. And in transitions, he was lethal. What didn’t come easily was dropping back to link up and maintain the flow of play.”

He struggled initially with linking up play and maintaining the flow of the team, but his speed and willingness to learn helped him adapt quickly. His debut as a forward included a viral moment when he missed an open goal, which was emotionally challenging for him.

“He went through a mental process; that week was very hard for him.”

Despite early setbacks, Eyong soon found his rhythm. By the fourth matchday, he was scoring consistently and finished his first season as a forward with 14 goals in 32 appearances. The following season with Villarreal B, he scored 19 times in 30 matches and made his first-team debut, scoring once in four games.

“By the fourth or fifth matchday, he had already scored… and has been doing so ever since.”

Now in his third year as a forward, Eyong has drawn attention from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona. Cifuentes praises his work ethic and determination, highlighting that he continues to have a huge margin for improvement. The Cameroonian’s rapid adaptation from midfielder to striker is a testament to his talent, resilience, and ambition to succeed at the highest level.

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Maybe this is exactly what Hansi Flick and his coaching staff need to try with Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan often showcases elite striker instincts inside the box. On a serious note, though, it shows how much Etta Eyong has worked on his game to become the player he is now.

The only concern that remains is whether he has the quality to lead the Barcelona attacking line and fill the massive boots of Robert Lewandowski. His evolution between now and the end of the season is one to keep an eye on, and we will have to wait and see how things play out.