Barcelona Coach Hansi Flick Gambles on Raphinha at Mestalla

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is ready to gamble at Mestalla – and it may come at the expense of one of his youngest forwards.

On the eve of Sunday’s La Liga trip to Valencia, Flick strongly suggested that Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim will again miss out on the starting XI, even as he admitted that new signing Gabriel Jesus is still short of full fitness.

Jesus not ready to start, but ready to appear

Jesus only arrived from Arsenal on Tuesday, and Flick used his pre-match press conference to cool any expectation of an immediate full debut. The Brazilian is still working his way into the team’s rhythm and physical demands.

“Of course, he is not 100% ready, but he is prepared to play for a few minutes. We will see how the match goes. It is good to see the way he has worked and how calm he is,” Flick said, as reported by AS.

So Jesus is likely to start on the bench, pencilled in as an impact option rather than a focal point from kick-off.

Barcelona head to Mestalla knowing a win would send them clear at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Friday. The stakes are high. Flick is not in the mood for experiments.

Raphinha up front, Hamza on hold

The clearest sign of that came when Flick was pressed on his centre-forward plans. Rather than turn to Abdelkarim, who is still waiting for a real chance to impress, the German made it clear he sees Raphinha as his No. 9 for now.

“At this moment, I think he (Raphinha) is the best option,” Flick said. “He initiates the dynamism of the play and the press and gives us speed. For me, he is the best option we have in this position at the moment.”

The numbers back him. Raphinha has exploded into the new campaign with 5 goals in Barcelona’s first three La Liga matches, more than any other player in the competition. His movement, intensity without the ball and ability to stretch defences have convinced Flick to keep him central.

Hamza, by contrast, has barely featured. He played only four minutes in the recent match against Rayo Vallecano, a brief cameo that underlines his current status in the pecking order. With Jesus not yet ready to start and Raphinha thriving through the middle, the youngster looks set to watch the opening whistle from the sidelines again.

Koundé’s versatility underlined

Flick also addressed the situation of Jules Koundé, who has not been in the starting XI at the beginning of the season but remains central to the coach’s plans thanks to his versatility.

“He is an incredibly professional player,” Flick said. “He has not started the matches, but that represents a challenge for him. His task is to reach his best level, as he was in the 2024-2025 season. He can play well in both positions, but as is always the case, the team is the most important thing.”

The message is clear: reputations do not guarantee minutes, but adaptability and attitude will be rewarded.

With top spot in La Liga within reach, Flick has nailed his colours to the mast – Raphinha as the spearhead, Jesus eased in carefully, and young Hamza still waiting for the night when his name finally appears on that teamsheet from the start.