Media reports have revealed that Barcelona's head coach, Hans Flick, has decided on the identity of the outright striker at "Camp Nou" in case the deal for Julián Álvarez is not completed during the current summer transfer window.
Barcelona is striving hard to finalize the deal for Julián Álvarez in the summer market, which is nearly impossible, not only due to the limited time as the transfer window closes next Monday, but also because of Atlético Madrid's stubbornness.
The Spanish newspaper "Sport" reported that unless a major surprise occurs in the final moments, Barcelona will not sign an outright striker before the end of the 2026 summer transfer window.
Barcelona signed six players this summer: Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Rodri, João Cancelo, Bissouma, and Livaković.
Strengthening the position of an outright striker was a top priority for Barcelona following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, with Julián Álvarez representing the primary target for the Catalan club's management.
Read also... La Liga submits an official complaint against Barcelona
It indicated that Barcelona's persistent stance on signing Álvarez throughout the summer transfer period is not merely due to the management's commitment to the Argentine star, but also because of other sporting considerations, namely the existence of a ready and pre-prepared alternative plan.
It reported that if Julián Álvarez does not join Barcelona this summer, the La Liga champions will not sign any other striker, the reason being Hans Flick's full confidence in Raphinha, who is considered one of the best players understanding the German coach's style and requirements.
It confirmed that Raphinha's playing style at Barcelona aligns perfectly with Flick's philosophy, which demands maximum vitality from his players, proving this by scoring three goals in Barcelona's first two league matches of the season.
Moreover, Hans Flick has other players capable of providing offensive support; Fermín López has also scored three goals, while Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi can also play as outright strikers.
It emphasized that Raphinha will become Barcelona's number 9 striker if the Álvarez deal fails, and this is not a random choice. Except for Robert Lewandowski, who scored 61 goals in two seasons under Flick, the Brazilian is the most prolific goal-scorer with that coach.
Raphinha scored 34 goals in Flick's first season with Barcelona and 21 in the second, totaling 55 goals, plus 3 goals this season, bringing his tally to 58 goals.
Meanwhile, Ferran Torres scored 40 goals with Hans Flick, and Lamine Yamal scored 42, making the choice of Raphinha as an outright striker highly justified.
