Ferran Torres: facing a golden opportunity to be Barça's starting '9'

Robert Lewandowski will be a significant absence for FC Barcelona for the first matches of LaLiga EA Sports. In principle, the Polish player will be out for around three weeks, which means he would miss the first three matchdays of the tournament.

That is why Ferran Torres wants to take advantage of the minutes that Hansi Flick gives him to secure the starting position. His first test will be against Como for the Joam Gamper trophy.

If the 'Shark' puts on an outstanding performance in the first few games, he could suggest to Flick to relegate the Polish attacker to the substitutes' bench once he has recovered. A difficult decision, but the coach has shown that he is not committed to anyone and, for him, the current form of each player makes the difference.

Ferran Torres will be Barça's '9' at the start of 25/26

Hansi Flick already knows who will replace Robert Lewandowski for the 'Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm' and the start of LaLiga EA Sports against Mallorca, Levante and Rayo Vallecano. 

Ferran, for the moment, is the main option to take over the starting position, after scoring two goals on the tour of Asia and finishing the 24/25 season in good form, his best season with Barça since he arrived at the club in January 2022.

Torres had good numbers in the last year. He scored 19 goals and gave 7 assists in 45 matches, being a fundamental piece for Flick. That is why the German coach would initially lean towards the '7' to be the centre forward.

Marcus Rashford, a threat to Ferran Torres?

The 'Shark', however, will have extra pressure this summer to try to earn his place. With the arrival of Marcus Rashford, there is clearly more competition for the starting position. And the Englishman, in the pre-season, already scored a goal against Daegu playing as a culé centre forward.

In that sense, the '14' can also earn the position as an alternative to Lewandowski, although Flick will mainly take him into account as a left winger. Rashford scored 4 goals and provided 5 assists in the first half of the year with Aston Villa, being the '9' for Unai Emery's team in the final stretch of the season.

In this way, if the 'Shark' does not do his job in the first matchdays of the Liga EA Sports, Marcus awaits his turn to demonstrate his skills to the culé fans. The Joam Gamper Trophy this Sunday is the first test for both the '7' and the '14' to see who will be the starting striker for the blaugrana club.