Barcelona’s new rhythm has found a particularly bright expression on the left side of the rebuilt Camp Nou. In the rain against Racing, Karim Adeyemi did not score in a 7-2 victory, yet he was at the centre of much of the afternoon’s noise: sprinting into space, taking on defenders and giving the home crowd the sense that another opening might arrive each time he received the ball.
The 24-year-old German has settled quickly into Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, a significant move after a difficult spell in Germany. Flick knows the forward well, having handed him his Germany debut, and pushed for his arrival during the summer as Barcelona sought another level of pace and unpredictability in the attacking line.
Barcelona paid Borussia Dortmund €22 million up front for Adeyemi, with a further €7 million possible in add-ons. Seven appearances into his spell, split between starts and substitute outings, he has returned three goals and three assists. His output might already be higher but for several close finishes, including a chipped effort against Racing after Pedri released him with a forward pass. Adeyemi lifted the ball over Agirrezabala, only for it to drift narrowly wide.
A winger who stays involved
Against Racing, Adeyemi’s contribution went well beyond the scoresheet. He had eight attempts, beat opponents six times with successful dribbles, created four chances and made five recoveries. He also supplied an assist, won two penalties and delivered two crosses. Across 74 touches or involvements in the match, he completed 42 passes at an 85.7% rate and drew four fouls.
Operating alongside Cancelo, Adeyemi repeatedly opened up the left flank. His willingness to run beyond the defence, exactly as Flick wants, forced Racing backwards during a game Barcelona controlled with increasing force. Rather than waiting wide for a simple chance to race forward, he was regularly part of the build-up and the next phase of attack, mixing acceleration with direct dribbling and sharp changes of pace.
There have already been moments made for the travelling image of European football. He struck from distance against Feyenoord, then produced a solo effort against Levante that prompted an astonished reaction from Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona youngster had been substituted. At Camp Nou, even an attempted scorpion-style finish was received as part of the occasion rather than a needless flourish.
Flick sees further room to grow
Flick has made clear that Barcelona’s staff do not regard Adeyemi as a finished product. “Karim has enormous potential and will get better because he is still learning our way of playing,” the coach said after Wednesday’s match.
The German also underlined the importance of a relationship that can define a new arrival in Catalonia. “The supporters are behind him, and I am pleased for him,” Flick said. “His time in Germany was not easy. He is entertaining, his team-mates enjoy having him around, and he gives everything. His speed is remarkable. For Lamine’s goal, he was outstanding.”
For Barcelona, the early evidence is not simply a promising return in goals and assists. Adeyemi has brought a stretch of the pitch to life, and in a season built across different European nights and domestic tests, that ability to turn a routine possession into a moment of expectation already feels valuable.
