Barcelona Coach Hansi Flick Trusts Raphinha as Central Striker Against Valencia
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is set to keep faith with Raphinha as his central striker against Valencia, even as new signing Gabriel Jesus waits on the fringes and young Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim slips further down the pecking order.
Barça head to Mestalla on Sunday in the fourth round of La Liga with a clear target: take advantage of Real Madrid’s 0-1 defeat to Real Betis and grab top spot outright. The opportunity is there. Flick intends to chase it with what he considers his sharpest weapons right now.
Jesus to start on the bench
Gabriel Jesus only arrived from Arsenal on Tuesday and Flick made no attempt to disguise the Brazilian’s current condition. The forward is not fully up to speed yet, and Barcelona will only drip-feed him into the action.
As reported by AS, Flick explained that Jesus is “not 100% ready” but fit enough to feature “for a few minutes,” leaving the door open for a late cameo depending on how the game unfolds. The German highlighted the striker’s attitude and work since landing in Barcelona, praising his calmness and effort on the training pitch.
So, no starting berth, no big debut from the first whistle. Jesus will have to wait.
Raphinha keeps the No. 9 role
If there was any doubt about who leads the line at Mestalla, Flick shut it down quickly. Hamza Abdelkarim will not be the answer through the middle. That responsibility, at least for now, belongs to Raphinha.
“At this moment, I think he is the best option,” Flick said, pointing to the Brazilian’s movement, intensity without the ball and his role in triggering the press. Raphinha, in Flick’s eyes, doesn’t just finish moves; he sets the tempo for the entire front line.
The numbers back him. Raphinha has started the season on fire, scoring five goals in Barcelona’s first three La Liga matches — more than any other player in the competition so far. With that kind of form, and with Jesus short of rhythm, Flick sees no reason to alter a formula that works.
Hamza, meanwhile, has barely had a taste of the league campaign, logging only four minutes in the recent match against Rayo Vallecano. For now, his route to the starting XI looks blocked by a compatriot in peak form and a high-profile signing waiting in the wings.
Koundé’s versatility still valued
Flick also addressed the situation of Jules Koundé, who has not been part of the starting XI at the beginning of the season but remains a key piece in the coach’s plans.
He described the Frenchman as “incredibly professional” and framed Koundé’s current role as a challenge rather than a demotion. The message was clear: reach the levels he hit in the 2024-2025 season, and the minutes will follow.
Flick underlined Koundé’s ability to perform in more than one position and repeated a familiar mantra — the team comes first. Roles may shift, line-ups may change, but versatility and commitment will be rewarded.
Barcelona now walk into Mestalla with a chance to seize early control of La Liga. Raphinha at the tip, Jesus on standby, Hamza waiting for his chance, Koundé pushing to reclaim his place. How long can this hierarchy hold if results — or egos — start to shift?
