Raphinha ruled out of Brazil friendly as Barca weighs options to replace him against Getafe

Once again, the international break is causing headaches for Barcelona. Raphinha has been withdrawn from the Brazil squad after feeling discomfort during a friendly and is already on his way back to Catalonia, but concern within the Barca camp is far from minor: Hansi Flick is already exploring his options in case the Brazilian isn't ready in time for the league clash against Getafe.

According to the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), medical tests detected a small muscle edema in the winger, which led the medical staff to release him from the rest of his upcoming friendlies with the Selecao as a precaution. In Barcelona, hope remains that he could be available for October 10, when the LaLiga leaders resume action against Getafe. But while the club awaits clearer news on his recovery, Flick is already running through the attacking options at his disposal.

Gabriel Jesus waits for his chance

The name gaining the most traction is that of his fellow countryman Gabriel Jesus. He arrived late in the summer transfer window, short on fitness and with Raphinha playing at a high level, factors that have kept him out of the starting lineup so far this season. Even so, in the limited minutes he's been given, he's shown flashes of quality: he made his debut at Mestalla against Valencia, scored in the Champions League against Feyenoord, and also found the net in LaLiga against Racing.

Another forward waiting for his moment is Hamza Abdelkarim. The Egyptian was Barca's top scorer during preseason and, during this very break, netted his first goal with Egypt's senior national team. He hasn't yet carried the weight many expected of him this early in the season, though he did make his first-team debut. The club, in fact, already extended his contract through 2030 with a significant increase to his release clause, a clear show of confidence in his future.

Also in the mix are Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, the other two signings Deco brought in over the summer. Both have mostly played out wide on the left, but it wouldn't be surprising to see either of them through the middle: Gordon has done it before at Newcastle, and Adeyemi has also played as a center forward at Borussia Dortmund.

Fermin and Olmo, or Lamine as a false nine?

Flick already experimented last season with Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez rotating between the two central attacking positions. Fermin has shown a sharper edge in front of goal and could also fill the central role, but whenever the German coach has turned to this setup, he's preferred to push the former RB Leipzig man slightly further forward.

And then there's the debate that's been simmering at Camp Nou for a while now: Lamine Yamal as a false nine. With 11 goals between club and country in just the first 10 matches of the season, his numbers make a strong case. The feeling is that sooner or later he'll end up playing in a more central role, but for now it doesn't seem like Flick wants to replicate with Lamine what Pep Guardiola did with Lionel Messi on that May 2, 2009, at the Bernabeu.