Raphinha Takes Centre-Forward Role as Jesus Awaits
Barcelona head to Mestalla on Sunday with top spot in La Liga within reach, but Hansi Flick has made one thing clear on the eve of the trip: the centre-forward role, for now, belongs to Raphinha – not to new signing Gabriel Jesus, and not to young striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Friday has cracked the title race wide open early in the season. A win over Valencia would send Barça clear at the summit. Flick, though, is not letting the table dictate his selection up front.
Jesus to start on the bench
Gabriel Jesus only arrived from Arsenal on Tuesday. Flick likes what he has seen, but he is not about to rush the Brazilian.
“Of course, he is not 100% ready, but he is prepared to play for a few minutes. We will see how the match goes. It is good to see the way he has worked and how calm he is,” Flick said, as quoted by AS.
So Jesus travels, but as a weapon for the second half rather than a headline act. Limited minutes, controlled exposure, no shortcuts.
Raphinha seizes the No. 9 role
The real twist is Flick’s stance on Hamza Abdelkarim. The Egyptian youngster will not be the one to bridge the gap until Jesus is fully fit. Instead, Flick is doubling down on Raphinha as his central striker.
“At this moment, I think he (Raphinha) is the best option,” the German coach insisted. “He initiates the dynamism of the play and the press and gives us speed. For me, he is the best option we have in this position at the moment.”
The numbers back him. Raphinha has exploded out of the blocks this season, scoring 5 goals in Barcelona’s first three La Liga matches – more than any other player in the competition so far. His movement between the lines, his aggression without the ball, and his willingness to lead the press have convinced Flick to keep him through the middle.
Hamza, by contrast, has barely had a look-in. His only league action recently was a four-minute cameo against Rayo Vallecano. With Raphinha thriving and Jesus easing his way in, the pathway to minutes at centre-forward is suddenly crowded.
Koundé’s versatility still in Flick’s plans
Flick also used the press conference to underline the importance of Jules Koundé, even though the defender has not been in the starting XI at the beginning of the campaign.
“He is an incredibly professional player,” Flick said. “He has not started the matches, but that represents a challenge for him. His task is to reach his best level, as he was in the 2024-2025 season. He can play well in both positions, but as is always the case, the team is the most important thing.”
The message is blunt: status is earned, not granted. Koundé’s ability to operate in more than one role keeps him firmly in Flick’s long-term plans, but no one is guaranteed a place.
As Barcelona walk into the noise of Mestalla chasing first place, Flick’s choices are already drawing their own lines: Raphinha as the unexpected spearhead, Jesus waiting to pounce from the bench, and Hamza forced to fight his way back into the conversation.
