In Spain they claim Panichelli is on Barcelona’s radar | OneFootball

Barcelona continues its search for a new attacker to revamp its offense, and the name Joaquín Panichelli has emerged as a concrete alternative. The Argentine striker from Racing Strasbourg, who stands out in Ligue 1 and shares the squad with Valentín Barco, has begun to attract the attention of the Catalan club, according to Spanish media.

While Barça’s management dreams of signing Julián Álvarez, the high transfer fee and salary of the Manchester City forward complicate the operation. In this context, the newspaper Mundo Deportivo points out that Panichelli represents a more accessible option, without losing impact in the opponent’s area.

“Another option that is rising like foam in Europe is the Argentine Joaquín Panichelli, the top scorer for Strasbourg,” wrote the Catalan outlet. The article highlights that his recent bicycle kick goal in the UEFA Conference League made headlines worldwide, although his most notable achievement is his consistent performance in the domestic league.

With 10 goals in 13 matches played, the former River Plate striker leads the Ligue 1 scoring chart with nine goals. At 23 years old, he has become one of the stars of a Racing Strasbourg side that is fighting at the top of the table, despite having the youngest squad in Europe: just 20.8 years on average.

The Cordoba native’s rise has not gone unnoticed by his coach, Liam Rosenior, who compared him to a legend of English football: “He’s an old-school striker. Because of his technique and power, he’s the Alan Shearer of Argentina,” he stated at a press conference.

Panichelli arrived at the French club after an impressive spell at Mirandés in Spain’s Second Division, prompting Racing to invest $20 million in his signing and offer him a contract until 2030. With his physical strength (he stands 1.87 m tall), finishing ability, and presence in the box, he has become the attacking beacon of a team that also competes in Europe.

The club’s institutional context also boosts his emergence: Strasbourg is part of the BlueCo group, the same conglomerate that manages Chelsea in the Premier League. The club’s policy is based on signing young players with great potential, and the results are already starting to show on the pitch.

At the same time, the strong performances of Argentines at the French club continue to generate international interest: Valentín Barco, who came up through Boca, is also being closely monitored by Bayern Munich, another European giant that has joined the list of suitors.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.