Robert Lewandowski’s departure from Barcelona has left a clear gap in the attacking line, but Hansi Flick may not necessarily be looking for another version of the Polish striker. Instead, the German coach could be considering a completely different way of reshaping Barcelona’s attack.
According to an analysis published by Barca Universal, Lamine Yamal could become one of the most important keys to Flick’s next attacking evolution, especially if the young star is given more freedom across the pitch.
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Flick has previously highlighted the need to find a solution for the No. 9 position and has considered several options capable of playing there. However, the possibility of using Lamine Yamal in a more central role has also emerged.
And this leads to the most intriguing question: What if Flick sometimes decides to move away from the traditional No. 9 role and puts Yamal through the middle?
Lamine Yamal.. From the Wing to the Center?
Yamal has established himself as a right winger, but Flick has already pushed him into deeper areas during certain moments of matches, allowing him to operate closer to an attacking midfield role.
The new idea would be even more ambitious: using Yamal as a false nine.
In this role, Yamal would not simply remain between the opposition center-backs waiting for the ball. Instead, he could drop into the spaces between the lines, forcing defenders to make difficult decisions.
If a defender follows him, space could open up behind the defensive line for Barcelona’s fast attackers. If the defenders leave him free, Yamal could receive the ball in dangerous areas where his creativity, passing and finishing could make a major difference.
Flick may not be looking for a direct replacement for Lewandowski.. he could instead be trying to change the way Barcelona replaces his presence.
Why Could the Idea Work?
Yamal finished the 2025-26 La Liga season with 16 goals and 12 assists, while also being named the league’s best player according to the report.
But moving into a more central role could give him even greater influence over matches.
Having players capable of making runs behind the opposition defense, such as Raphinha, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, could make Yamal’s movement into deeper areas even more dangerous, as his positioning could create spaces for those players to exploit.
His proximity to Pedri could also give Barcelona a creative partnership through the center, rather than relying mainly on creating danger from the wing.
A Weapon, Not a Permanent Plan
However, the idea does not necessarily mean that Flick will use Yamal as a central striker throughout the season.
Instead, using him as a false nine could become a tactical weapon in certain matches, rather than Barcelona’s permanent attacking system.
Against teams that defend deep with five defenders, there may not be enough space behind the defensive line for Barcelona’s pace to be fully effective. In those situations, the team could need a more physical striker capable of operating inside the penalty area.
Could Flick Recreate the Messi Experiment?
The idea naturally brings back memories of Barcelona’s historic experiment when Pep Guardiola moved Lionel Messi into a false-nine role against Real Madrid in May 2009.
However, the comparison does not mean Barcelona expects Yamal to repeat what Messi achieved.
The idea is simply to give the young star more freedom to move away from the touchline and exploit his ability to create danger when operating through the center.
Ultimately, everything could still depend on the transfer market.
If Barcelona manage to sign the striker Flick wants, this experiment could remain an occasional option. But the idea of using Yamal centrally could still become a fascinating weapon for the German coach whenever he wants to surprise Barcelona’s opponents.
