Xavi's 'dream' front three at Barcelona revealed

FT Desk

• 28 Oct 2022 21:33 BST
• 3 min read

Xavi has a clear vision of what Barcelona's front three should be going forward, and nearly €120 million worth of talent signed in the last year isn't included in it.

Robert Lewandowski makes the grade, even if his goals - five of them in five games in Europe - didn't ensure Barca's qualification from their Champions League group.

The Pole set Barcelona back €50m when he swapped Bayern Munich for the Camp Nou in July, and at 34 continues to defy Father Time having also scored 12 goals in just 11 La Liga games so far.

Ousmane Dembele has been the next most potent player in the Barca squad this season, with four goals and seven assists in all competitions, while the winger with the next-most minutes after the Frenchman is Raphinha, the Brazilian signed from Leeds for €64m the same week as Lewandowski.

READ: One goal and assist in 14 games - Raphinha a €60m FLOP

But Raphinha isn't in Xavi's ideal first XI according to Catalan daily, Sport.

"When Xavi got down to planning the Barca squad this season, he was very clear about the three players who should occupy the three attacking positions," they write.

"It's true the club tried to sign [Erling] Haaland, but the real first choice was Lewandowski. A huge art of the reason Dembele ended up staying at Barca was the coach, who showed complete confidence in the French winger.

"Along with Ousmane and Lewandowski, Xavi had and still has in mind who his third man in attack is: Ansu Fati. That's what he thought during pre-season and that's how he continues to think today."

READ: Xavi comments prove Barcelona summer transfers failed

Ansu has had a difficult time with hamstring injuries in recent months but was recently handed a new contract with a €1 billion release clause.

Raphinha and Ferran not included

Conspicuous by their absence in Xavi's preferred front three are Raphinha and also Ferran Torres, who cost €55m when he joined from Manchester City in December 2021.

Xavi's reluctance about signing Raphinha has been borne out thus far - the 25-year-old only has one goal and one assists to show for his 14 appearances in all competitions to date.

Ferran has been slightly more productive with three goals and an assist, but a fit-again Ansu could mean curtains for both of them at Camp Nou - especially with the club now needing to raise money following their early exit from the Champions League.