Three logical options for Hansi Flick to replace injured Barcelona forward
· Yahoo Sports
There are injuries, and then there are injuries that genuinely change the course of a season. For Barcelona, this one clearly falls into the second category.
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Hansi Flick was dealt a serious blow heading into a decisive phase of the campaign, with Raphinha now ruled out for an extended period.
This is, without a doubt, one of the worst pieces of news Flick could have received.
Initially, there was hope within the club that the issue would be minor, something manageable. But those expectations quickly faded.
Now, the reality is clear. Barcelona will be without one of their most decisive attackers for over a month, forcing a reshuffle in the final third.
The Brazilian is out for five weeks, meaning he will miss some crucial matches and naturally, Hansi Flick will have to start considering alternatives.
The natural option
The most logical replacement, both tactically and in terms of impact, appears to be Marcus Rashford.
While his role has fluctuated in recent weeks, his output this season makes a strong case. Simply put, he has been involved in 23 goals this season (10G, 13A).
Notably, Rashford did pretty well earlier in the season when Raphinha was out.
Rashford is the natural replacement for Barcelona. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
He was a constant threat going forward and his performance during this interval could prove to be very decisive in terms of his future.
Two versatile options
However, Flick is not short of alternatives. He just has different profiles.
For that matter, the likes of Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo offer a more interior approach, drifting inside rather than holding width.
With a tendency to cut inside, they would leave the wing more open for Alejandro Balde or Joao Cancelo.
The Portuguese player has been the standout, and the academy product is set to return from injury. Both provide width and should make the most of the wing.
Two non-conventional options
There are also more experimental options, though they seem less convincing at this stage.
In that context, other possibilities could see Roony Bardghji or Ferran Torres playing there.
However, it is known that the Swede struggles more on the left to make an impact. As a left-footed player, he’s less capable of cutting inside because he isn’t particularly explosive or quick off the mark.
Lastly, if Ferran takes up the wing, Barcelona will have no second choice for the centre forward position to replace Robert Lewandowski.