The 2026-2027 LaLiga season kicked off around Spain and Hansi Flick's Barcelona are the current Spanish title holders. After claiming the domestic league the past two seasons since the German manager took over the Catalan side, the main target of the former Bayern Munich head coach is to improve the team's performance in Europe. In his first season, Barcelona were eliminated by Inter in the semifinals of the Champions League, while last season they were knocked out by Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals. With those setbacks in mind, can we expect more from Barcelona in the upcoming European campaign? However, they are still yet to sign their starting center striker, which remains a key area to address.
The Blaugrana made some changes in their roster in the first part of the summer transfer window but so far have failed to replace their starting striker, Robert Lewandowski, who left as a free agent and joined MLS side Chicago Fire this summer. With not long to go before the end of the transfer session, Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are still working to find the right player for their attacking squad. The main question heading into the new season is, can Barcelona achieve greater success in Europe despite still failing to sign a proven central striker?
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Arrivals: Rodri, attacking help but no striker
Barcelona made some big signings ahead of the summer, as Anthony Gordon joined from Newcastle for around $80 million and Karim Adeyemi joined from Borussia Dortmund for around $20 million. These signings strengthen Flick's options on the wings, allowing him to rotate his players more effectively between league and cup competitions, especially with Ferran Torres now at PSG and Marcus Rashford's loan move ending. However, the signing of Rodri was arguably the most important addition. The captain of the Spanish national team, who lifted the 2026 World Cup, is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, especially after winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Rodri ultimately decided to join Barcelona despite also holding talks with Real Madrid, something that was also confirmed by Jose Mourinho.
During the recent exclusive interview with El Chiringuito, Mourinho claimed he "had doubts" about Rodri after speaking with him.
"I spoke with him a couple of times. Real Madrid made him a very good offer. I think the relationship between Real Madrid and City is very good. The club made him a generous offer. Rodri had doubts, he doubted, and I think what happened is that the doubts Rodri had gave me doubts. He's an extraordinary player. But I think Real Madrid are so big that we can't have players who think twice. That's the concept. But he behaved properly with us, and I wish him well," Mourinho said.
With Lewandowski leaving ahead of the summer, Barcelona failed to sign a proper replacement with less than 10 days left before the end of the summer transfer window. The Catalan club tried to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, but the Spanish side blocked the move despite the Argentine striker pushing for a transfer to Flick's team. The two clubs then became embroiled in a verbal war that grew increasingly tense during the first weeks of June. Since then, they have been unable to find a way to sit down and reach an agreement. Barcelona seemed a bit stuck and didn't find a proper alternative yet. In recent days, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez emerged as a candidate according to multiple Spanish reports, but Inter president Giuseppe Marotta, speaking to DAZN, cooled the rumors down ahead of the opening match of the season against Monza.
"Lautaro is our captain, our history. There are not even the conditions to sell him. You should not even speak about Lautaro's exit," he said.
The next target: Winning outside Spain
When Flick was called by Laporta to become the new Barcelona coach, the target was clear -- winning the Champions League. In his first two years in charge, Flick has achieved his domestic objectives, leading Barcelona to two titles in two seasons. The next step is to make their mark in Europe, and this is where the signings of Rodri, Gordon and Adeyemi could prove crucial, adding more talent to a roster that also sees players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and more lead the charge.
Winning in Europe is different. Success can depend heavily on the form of key players at specific moments of the season, as last season proved. However, trying to compete without a proper replacement for Lewandowski would be a risky decision that is unlikely to pay off. That is why signing a top-class central striker in the coming days must be a priority for the Blaugrana ahead of the new season. This is especially true given Real Madrid's summer additions, which could make the domestic race even more challenging and leave Barcelona with little space for mistakes in key matches.
Predictions
- LaLiga: Winners
- Champions League: Semifinals
- Copa del Rey: Runners-up
