\n<\/p>\n
Barcelona spent the summer fruitlessly pursuing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez but Raphinha\u2019s blistering start to the La Liga season suggests they may already have the firepower they need.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Brazilian winger has bagged five goals in three games playing out of position as Barca\u2019s number nine ahead of Sunday\u2019s visit to Valencia at Mestalla.<\/p>\n Barca boast a 100 percent record and are level on nine points with Jose Mourinho\u2019s revamped Real Madrid, and Real Betis who beat Los Blancos 1-0 on Friday.<\/p>\n The Catalan giants failed to land the forward they craved to replace Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who left earlier in the summer, and instead settled for a deadline day deal with Arsenal for Gabriel Jesus.<\/p>\n However even former Manchester City striker Jesus admits it will be hard for him to upgrade an attack already flourishing with his compatriot Raphinha leading the way.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m coming to improve (the team) because it\u2019s already\u2026 great,\u201d admitted Jesus at his presentation on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just coming to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Raphinha is expected to keep his role as the team\u2019s centre-forward in the weeks ahead, although the start of the Champions League will encourage coach Hansi Flick to rotate.<\/p>\n Last season Raphinha suffered several injury problems, so Jesus could lighten his burden.<\/p>\n German coach Flick\u2019s arrival at Barca signified a new era not just for the team but for Raphinha himself, who was becoming frustrated under Xavi Hernandez.<\/p>\n With Flick at the helm the former Leeds United winger developed into a vital part of Barca\u2019s system, helping the team claim back-to-back league titles and gaining the admiration of his team-mates.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this moment (Raphinha) is doing really great,\u201d said Flick on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the best option for us at the moment in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n No surprise\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Flick was upset when Raphinha missed out on the Ballon d\u2019Or in 2025, and said this week he has not been at all surprised by how quickly the 29-year-old has impressed through the middle.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I expected his performance \u2014 he\u2019s a world-class footballer. I always want him on my team,\u201d said Flick, describing Raphinha as one of the Barca\u2019s \u201cleaders\u201d.<\/p>\n With Barcelona\u2019s pressing game important to Flick\u2019s system, Raphinha can literally lead from the front and set the tone.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I feel like I\u2019m annoying for my teammates,\u201d admitted Raphinha last season, as he always pushed to keep the team\u2019s standards and work-rate high.<\/p>\n The winger was given the captain\u2019s armband this season, and instead of battling with Anthony Gordon for a place on the left wing, is showing he will not easily be dislodged.<\/p>\n \u201cRaphinha is a role model because he helps us all a lot. Especially the younger ones. He\u2019s approachable, and that\u2019s what we want, a captain like that,\u201d Barca midfielder Marc Bernal told DAZN.<\/p>\n Raphinha netted twice against Elche in the first game of the season as Barca ran out 5-0 winners, again in the 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao and then hit another brace in the 5-2 romp against Rayo Vallecano on Monday.<\/p>\n There is still a question over whether Raphinha can sustain his superb numbers across a long period of time, particularly against defences which set up deeper than Barca\u2019s opponents thus far, denying the Brazilian the room he likes to burst into.<\/p>\n The trip to Mestalla to face Carlos Corberan\u2019s Valencia may offer a different type of challenge, but since joining Barcelona in 2022 Raphinha has risen to all those he has faced.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n