Raphinha tipped to fill Lewandowski void at Barcelona

Barcelona may be nearing the end of the transfer window without signing a specialist centre-forward, but the early discussion in Catalonia has shifted toward an internal solution. According to Sport, Hansi Flick believes Raphinha can evolve into the figure who carries the attacking burden that had been expected to fall on a new signing after Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Barcelona’s early-season results ease the pressure

The absence of a traditional striker has not been obvious in Barcelona’s opening two league matches. The team began the season with victories over Elche and Athletic, scoring freely across those games, while Raphinha and Fermin Lopez each found the net three times.

That return has helped fuel the argument that Barcelona may not need to force a late move in the market. The club did bring in Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, but the source material makes clear they are not viewed as like-for-like replacements for Lewandowski and Ferran Torres in the central attacking role.

Raphinha recast under Hansi Flick

Joan Vehils of the Catalan newspaper Sport argues that Flick’s key decision has been to remodel Raphinha’s role. Rather than operating farther from goal, the Brazil international has been moved closer to the penalty area, where his finishing has come into sharper focus.

Vehils presents that tactical shift as a gamble that is already showing signs of success. He also links Raphinha’s form to Barcelona’s transfer thinking, suggesting the Brazilian’s output could make an expensive pursuit of Julian Alvarez less urgent.

Sport describes Raphinha as Barcelona’s “great saviour”, with Vehils arguing that Flick’s experiment could spare the club a major outlay if it continues to work over the course of the season.

Julian Alvarez remains the reference point

The report says Alvarez had been identified as the player to lead Barcelona’s new project after Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. But the same piece also states that club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco already know the Argentina forward is not expected to join, even if they wait until the final stages of the window.

That is where the financial angle becomes central. Sport frames the debate around a potential 100 million euro commitment for Alvarez and argues that Raphinha’s emergence makes that level of spending feel less essential.

• Barcelona have opened the season with two wins.
• Raphinha and Fermin Lopez have each scored three goals in those matches.
• Sport says Raphinha’s new role could reduce the need for a costly move for Julian Alvarez.

What comes next for Barcelona

For now, this remains an early-season theme rather than a settled conclusion. The source is ultimately an opinion from Catalonia rather than a formal club declaration, but it reflects a growing belief that Flick may have found a solution within his own squad.

Barcelona have six points after two rounds and next face Rayo Vallecano at home on Monday, 31 August, with kick-off scheduled for 21:30. That match will offer another chance to see whether Raphinha’s altered role continues to shape the team’s attack.