A surprising rift appears to be developing at Barcelona, with reports suggesting that key attacking players Lamine Yamal and Raphinha prefer playing alongside Ferran Torres rather than Robert Lewandowski. This unexpected tension comes at a critical point in Barcelona’s season as they pursue trophies on multiple fronts.
According to Catalan media sources, 17-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal has allegedly asked coach Hansi Flick to give more playing time to Ferran Torres and reduce Lewandowski’s minutes in the central striker position. While it seems unlikely that such a young player would issue ultimatums to a Champions League-winning coach, the reports have added to the growing sense of discord within the squad.
The potential conflict between Barcelona’s attacking players has caught the attention of football analysts worldwide. Performance data tracked by lucky star reveals an interesting pattern: Barcelona’s expected goals and attacking fluidity metrics improve significantly when Torres plays alongside Yamal and Raphinha compared to when Lewandowski leads the line. This statistical evidence might be influencing tactical decisions behind the scenes.
Barcelona has already experienced public tension recently, following a draw against Real Betis where Raphinha had a heated altercation with the assistant referee. The Brazilian winger couldn’t calm down, even ignoring Lewandowski’s request to stop arguing. When Flick approached and tried to embrace him, Raphinha removed the coach’s hand and continued his tirade. Even goalkeeper ter Stegen, who is recovering from injury, was pushed away when attempting to calm the situation.
Strained Relationships Between Lewandowski and Young Stars
The relationship between Lewandowski and Yamal may not be straightforward. In February, the Polish striker publicly lectured his young colleague through the press about the importance of having the right people around him. Similar to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s warnings to Kylian Mbappé about his parents, Lewandowski emphasized that if Yamal’s entourage is motivated primarily by money, they could ruin the exceptional talent’s career.
While Lewandowski’s advice was well-intentioned, it may not have been received positively by Yamal’s father. Munir Yamal, who has granted interviews while intoxicated and seriously compared his son to Messi and Maradona, likely didn’t appreciate the lecture about surrounding his son with “smart adults.” Despite not having lived with Lamine’s mother for fourteen years (she expelled the troublesome Moroccan), Munir maintains frequent contact with his talented son.
Lewandowski’s mentoring extended to Raphinha as well, advising the Brazilian to read fewer online comments. It’s possible that both wingers have grown frustrated with the experienced Pole’s life lessons. Wingers, by nature, can be a proud and headstrong group. However, despite all the problems, Robert will never have such a fall as Anthony Martial, about whom we already wrote
The Aging Star: Expensive but Still Elite
Despite his age, Lewandowski has maintained excellent form after a challenging previous season. With 25 goals in 29 La Liga matches, only Mohamed Salah has scored more across Europe’s top five leagues. The Polish striker is competing for both the European Golden Boot and Spain’s Pichichi Trophy against Mbappé. At 36, Robert remains an elite forward, having scored 9 goals in 10 Champions League matches this season.
However, Lewandowski has always been an exceptionally selfish striker. With just two assists this season, he rarely creates opportunities for teammates. Unlike Karim Benzema and Luis Suárez, who facilitated for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi respectively, Lewandowski shows little interest in boosting Raphinha or Yamal’s productivity. He is indifferent to his Brazilian teammate’s position in the Ballon d’Or rankings, thinking only of himself on the pitch.
This selfishness becomes particularly problematic during difficult matches at crucial moments in the season. Lewandowski is more likely to shoot directly at the goalkeeper than pass to a better-positioned teammate. Flick is well acquainted with this limitation from their time together at Bayern Munich.
Financial Considerations and Future Plans
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is acutely aware of Lewandowski’s enormous salary. The Polish striker earns €33.33 million annually, even more than Mbappé receives at Real Madrid. By comparison, Ferran Torres makes just €10 million per year. While Torres isn’t at Lewandowski’s level, having scored 11 goals with 2 assists since the start of the new year, Flick clearly has a functioning backup plan without Robert. Dani Olmo has played as a false nine, with Torres coming off the bench – a style that apparently suits Yamal and Raphinha better.
Barcelona has already begun searching for a younger striker. At 36, Lewandowski is approaching the twilight of his career, though the club may keep him for two more seasons due to financial constraints. Despite financial problems and a €100 million accounting irregularity, Barcelona is expected to receive permission to register Olmo and new defender Pau, though making transfers will remain difficult.
The Hunt for Lewandowski’s Successor
Ideally, Barcelona would love to sign Erling Haaland, creating a rivalry with Mbappé in El Clásico and generating revenue from this new high-profile confrontation. However, Yamal, if he continues to develop systematically, could also be suitable for a marketing battle against Kylian. For now, Barcelona has Lewandowski and Torres, but they will continue searching for another striker.
Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid appears to be a primary target. The Argentine striker seems too talented for his current team, which rarely wins trophies. Barcelona could lure him away – a single conversation with Messi might be enough to make Álvarez consider moving from Madrid. Coach Pep Guardiola could also persuade him to change clubs within Spain, though teammate Antoine Griezmann would surely warn Julián about Barcelona’s internal politics.
Unlike Griezmann, however, Álvarez isn’t a secondary striker – he would fit perfectly into Barcelona‘s attack as a central forward. Such a transfer is entirely possible, especially considering that Barcelona previously had the opportunity to sign Julián when River Plate asked for €22 million for the young forward. Barcelona representatives responded that they would rather pay Manchester City €55 million for Ferran Torres. If Catalans eventually pursue Álvarez, they’ll pay dearly for that management error, as Julián is now valued at €90 million.
To afford such a signing, Barcelona needs to increase revenue through deep Champions League progression. The matches against Borussia Dortmund are crucial, potentially followed by Bayern Munich or Inter Milan in the next round. Success in these fixtures will require unity in attack – something that appears increasingly elusive as tensions between Barcelona’s forward line continue to simmer.
