During a Cadena SER podcast, journalist Santi Ovalle revealed that Raphinha became Barcelona's number 9 this season because Flick appreciates his pressing ability.

According to reports, Barcelona started the season impressively, dominating nearly every match. The statistics speak for themselves: seven consecutive La Liga wins, 31 goals scored, only 7 conceded, an average of more than 4 goals per match, and a dominant 5-1 victory against Feyenoord in their Champions League opener.

It's a well-oiled machine, with a sharp attack, intense pressing, excellent chance creation, and united team spirit. If there's a leader on the pitch—though Flick is widely considered the true leader of the team—it's Raphinha.

Not only does he wear the captain's armband, but he also stands out for his winning desire and positive attitude; his statistics are remarkable. In 8 appearances, he has scored 14 goals and provided 3 assists, making him La Liga's top scorer. It's a rare achievement, especially for someone who isn't a traditional center forward.

At the start of this season, Barcelona faced the challenge of finding a successor to Lewandowski and Ferran Torres after their departures. Although they signed Adeyemi and Gordon, neither was ideally suited to the position.

Since the start of the season, Raphinha has perfectly filled the number 9 role for Barcelona, demonstrating his quality. But his value extends far beyond goals, which validates Flick's crucial decision.

However, that wasn't the main reason Flick positioned him there. In fact, Flick chose Raphinha as the starting striker not only for his excellent finishing ability, but also because he knew the Brazilian forward never shied away from a challenge.

The journalist stated: "Flick decided to play him in this position primarily because he can pressure opponents. Flick believes he's the team's best presser and asked him to lead the attack." Santi himself was also surprised by Raphinha's excellent early-season performance.

"One day during preseason, they had Raphinha play in this position. After his first appearance, they spoke to him and asked how he would handle the pressure. He said, 'Press like a beast.' And that's exactly what Raphinha did, which changed the plans for both the club and the player himself."

The club wasn't entirely certain about Raphinha's long-term future, not because they didn't want him to stay, but due to recent circumstances: "They think he'll stay this year, but he could move to Saudi Arabia next year or the year after to earn a higher salary than what's in his contract."

As a result, Barcelona signed Adeyemi and Gordon, two players with similar positions on the pitch. Subsequently, they also agreed to a contract extension with Raphinha, a development that greatly benefited both parties.

The club retained a key player—its captain—while the Brazilian maintained his excellent form. The new contract placed him in the "second tier of the salary structure," level with Rodri and just below Yamal.

That's how he became the number 9, and he's undoubtedly the most decisive player on the team right now. They also believe he'll only improve: "If he can maintain this form, the club thinks he'll be a serious Ballon d'Or contender next season, provided he maintains these statistics."

Traduit par IA.

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