Deco taps Enrique's playbook to ease Barcelona's striker squeeze

Deco leans on Enrique's playbook to calm Barça's forward crisis

In his second season at Barcelona, German tactician Hans Flick faces a delicate attacking equation: the pure number nine who leads the line for the Catalan club.

After 10 league games, 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski is no longer the sole frontline option, as Spaniard Ferran Torres, usually deployed on the wings, has become one of the tools Flick relies on for the spearhead role.

Both players have taken turns in that role, lineups have shifted, but the pressing question remains: does Barcelona need a new number 9 to restore the front-line authority?

In recent days, murmurs from the Spanish press have linked Barça with several strikers as is customary at winter transfer time. Argentinian Julián Álvarez, currently of Atlético Madrid, tops the list, followed by Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund.

Yet Deco, the sporting director, finally spoke up in a candid interview on Tot Costa for Radio Catalunya, saying it is far too early to discuss signings or renewals, especially concerning Lewandowski.

He stated: "We won't talk about renewals in October; we are moving step by step. Lewandowski is among the best forwards in recent years, and his value is not to be questioned. He has given a lot to the team and scored more than 40 goals. But now, what matters is bringing back the injured players, not entering new negotiations."

His words were calm, yet carried a clear message: Barça’s management resists sensational headlines and prefers stability over chasing big names.

The Portuguese-speaking sporting director emphasized that the club's new policy centers on internal stability rather than flashy signings, a shift from a market-centered approach to a more balanced strategy.

He added: "Renewals are our major deals; we must not fall into the 9-obsession trap. Sometimes you can play without a traditional number nine."

He even cited a recent example from the previous season: "Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League without a number 9, proving modern football is changing."

By making that point, Deco showed that tactical solutions within the squad can compensate for the absence of the classic striker, and that flexibility gives Flick a varied toolkit without expensive new signings.

Despite ongoing speculation about Lewandowski's future, Deco did not signal any plan to part ways with the Polish star, suggesting that everything would be considered in due time.

He clarified: "We analyze the season step by step; there is no need for haste. What matters now is the return of injured players such as Pedri, Gavi, and Fermín, because they are Barça's real future."

His remarks praised the Catalan youth generation reshaping the club’s identity. Deco sees keeping these players and renewing their contracts as Barça's biggest transfer victory.

He added: "Many clubs would love to have players like Pedri, Gavi, and Fermín López. We have a champion squad at a very high level; we just need to refine a few details."

From his words emerges a new philosophy: Barça under Laporta and Deco aims to move away from constant market reliance and build a stable team capable of competing without yearly upheavals.

Past periods marked by debt and failed deals are behind them; today, stability is the clear strategic choice.

Finally, Deco concluded: "When we renew a contract, we are making a new deal. We have managed to keep our key stars without selling any, and that in itself is a tangible achievement."

Thus, Deco sketches a calm outline for Barça's next phase: no market frenzy, no media noise about the awaited striker, but realism and long-term planning. The current squad has enough tools to compete, and the future rests on youth and trust, not on flashy names alone. Perhaps this is the first sign of maturity at a club learning from its mistakes, realizing real trophies start in the dressing room, not the transfer window.

Punchline 1: If patience were a sniper rifle, Barça just fired a quiet shot—dead on target, and with zero drama. Punchline 2: And if the 9 never shows up, the squad will be so balanced even a spectator would forget where the drama began.