Flick wants a No 9 despite Barcelona's flying start

Barcelona may have begun the new La Liga season in emphatic fashion, but Hansi Flick has made clear that the club's search for a recognised centre-forward is not over. Despite an explosive return in front of goal and a perfect start in the league, the head coach says the squad still needs a natural No 9.

Strong numbers, familiar question

The Catalan side have scored 17 goals across their opening four league matches, underlining the attacking strength already available to Flick. Barcelona sit top of the table with maximum points, and their early results have reinforced the sense of momentum around the team.

That sharp start has come even though the club did not secure the successor to Robert Lewandowski they had been seeking during the summer. Barcelona added Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus to their attacking options, but only Jesus is a specialist striker. Gordon and Adeyemi are more naturally wide forwards, even if both can operate through the middle when required.

Julian Alvarez move did not happen

Barcelona were unable to complete a deal for Julian Alvarez, a player Flick had wanted to bring in. According to the source material, the Argentina forward was keen on the move, but Atletico's stance prevented the transfer from being finalised.

In the meantime, Flick has turned to Raphinha in the central role, and the decision has paid off in the opening weeks. The Brazil international has led the scoring charts with six goals, offering a solution that has worked in the short term even if it has not changed the club's wider thinking.

Flick: plans remain unchanged

Speaking after the win over Valencia, Flick said Barcelona's scoring run had not altered the club's plans in the market. His message was direct: the team still need a No 9.

"We need a '9', that's clear," Flick said, as cited by fcbarca.com.

At the same time, the coach highlighted the variety and quality in Barcelona's attack. He pointed to the contribution coming not only from the forward line but also from midfield, stressing that the team are controlling matches, using space well and showing quality both in one-against-one situations and in finishing moves.

Goals spread across the side

That depth was visible again in the victory over Valencia. Pedri was among the scorers and received praise from Flick, while Lamine Yamal scored twice. Fermin Lopez and Raphinha also found the net.

Barcelona's opening run in La Liga has been built on both volume and variety in attack:

• 5:0 against Elche
• 2:0 against Athletic Bilbao
• 5:2 against Rayo Vallecano
• 5:0 against Valencia

The challenge now is to carry that momentum into Europe. Barcelona are preparing to begin their Champions League campaign, with Feyenoord set to visit in their opening home fixture. Even with the goals flowing, Flick's stance suggests the squad is still one profile short of what he ultimately wants.