English Premier League
Flick criticises Adeyemi after disappointing Barcelona debut
Hansi Flick has warned Karim Adeyemi he must improve quickly after the German forward made a disappointing first appearance for Barcelona in their friendly against Birmingham City.
Adeyemi failed to make an attacking impact as Barcelona drew 2-2 with the English side before losing 3-2 on penalties. His underwhelming display contrasted sharply with the performance of young Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who scored both of Barcelona’s goals and emerged as one of the most impressive players of the pre-season camp.
Speaking after the match, Barcelona manager Flick did not hide his frustration with Adeyemi’s contribution.
“For Adeyemi, things were not right in many aspects,” said the German coach.
The assessment represented a clear message to the former Borussia Dortmund player, despite Flick also acknowledging that the match was Adeyemi’s first in a Barcelona shirt. The manager’s comments indicate that the forward will need to raise his level quickly if he is to establish himself in the team’s attacking plans.
Adeyemi’s difficult introduction was made more uncomfortable by Abdelkarim’s eye-catching display. The Egyptian striker’s two goals and overall performance ensured he became one of the main talking points from the training camp, while also increasing the pressure on Adeyemi to demonstrate why he deserves a prominent role.
The result leaves Adeyemi facing a significant challenge as he attempts to win Flick’s confidence and compete for a starting position in Barcelona’s attack. Competition for places is already intense, with promising young players also seeking opportunities to displace more experienced members of the squad.
Although the match was only a pre-season friendly, Adeyemi’s first outing has damaged hopes of a smooth and immediate adaptation to Barcelona’s system. The forward now has limited time to change the negative first impression created by his performance before the start of the official season.
For Flick, the match provided a mixed picture. Barcelona’s defeat on penalties was disappointing, but the emergence of Abdelkarim offered encouragement. Adeyemi, meanwhile, must respond on the pitch if he is to avoid falling behind in the contest for attacking places.
His debut therefore ended in marked contrast to the expectations surrounding his arrival. Rather than making an immediate attacking contribution, he left the field under scrutiny from his manager, with the performance of Abdelkarim serving as a reminder of the competition for places within the Barcelona squad.
