Winger Turned Striker Scores 8 Goals in 5 Games, Raphinha Becomes Barcelona's Unexpected Solution

A month ago, Barcelona were still worried about having no natural center forward. Now, Raphinha has provided the answer with eight goals.

On Wednesday night Beijing time, Barcelona defeated Feyenoord 5-1 in the first round of the Champions League league phase. Raphinha scored twice, taking his tally to eight goals in the first five matches of the season. The 29-year-old Brazilian was moved from the left side into the middle by Flick, transforming from a winger into a No. 9, with unexpected results.

A beautiful goal and a precise run.

The first goal was a work of art. In the third minute, Raphinha received Yamal's pass and drove into the penalty area. With one touch and a feint, he immediately left two defenders behind. At that moment, Camp Nou seemed frozen; the Dutch defender turned back to look at him, while Raphinha calmly finished with a low shot.

The second goal showed a different kind of brilliance. It came from a perfectly timed late run and a confident finish. The current Raphinha makes everything look natural: pressing, running, and simplifying Barcelona's attack, with an extremely high conversion rate. He does not look like someone forced into an unfamiliar position; instead, he looks like he was always meant to play there.

From frustration on the right wing to rebirth in the center.

The No. 9 role is unfamiliar territory for Raphinha. Before this, at Leeds United and Barcelona, he had hardly played in this position. After returning from the World Cup, Flick told him in training that he wanted him to try playing as a striker. Raphinha did not back down because he had already experienced similar situations before.

In July 2022, Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United and was positioned as a right winger. At the time, Dembele was the first choice for that role, and manager Xavi trusted the Frenchman more, leaving Raphinha waiting. Dembele moved to Paris the following summer, and Xavi began using Raphinha, but often replaced him with Ferran Torres during matches. Raphinha walked angrily toward the bench several times and needed teammates to calm him down. Later, Yamal emerged.

By January 2024, Yamal had completely secured the starting position on the right side, and his talent could not be ignored. When Raphinha returned from a hamstring injury, a 16-year-old had already moved ahead of him.

A transformation forced by the lack of a striker.

Barcelona indeed had no available center forward this summer. Lewandowski left after his contract expired at the end of June, and Ferran Torres was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-August. Barcelona wanted Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid firmly refused to sell him. A Barcelona board member anonymously complained during the preseason training camp: "The team has no center forward anymore."

Flick's choice was to find solutions internally. He moved Raphinha from the left side into the center, putting the winger in the role of a striker. Judging by the results, this "costume" seems tailor-made for him. Eight goals in the first five matches, with Raphinha answering all the concerns with his efficiency.

He was not intimidated by the challenge. After all, since the first day he joined Barcelona, he had been waiting for his own position. Now, that position has finally appeared.