Julián Álvarez would bet the bacon to be a starter: the hot notes of Elche-Barça

BarcelonaSpectacular thrashing for Barça to open the League (0-5). Next, some immediate thoughts.

It's not worth going crazy. Hours after Julián Álvarez was heavily booed by his fans at the Metropolitano, Raphinha was Barça's first center forward in La Liga and put in an excellent performance. The Brazilian won a penalty, scored it, assisted Adeyemi, and scored again in the second half. Considering also that the club has spent over 100 million between Gordon and Adeyemi, two more forwards, it is exaggerated to want to let go of at least 120 million more – after Rodri's 70 – to sign Julián, who with his teammates at this level would struggle to be undisputed. With a cheaper penalty-box specialist, there is more than enough to get through the season. Let's not get too pharaonic.

All the time you need, Lamine. The thrashing at Elche, with half of Barça still in preseason, shows that La Liga will once again be a competition with few real threats. If there is hunger, and there will be, most of the obstacles will be overcome with sufficiency and professionalism. And, sometimes, as happened at the Martínez Valero, things will evolve into a festival. If the team works and the pressing is fierce, it won't matter if Lamine Yamal has afternoons where he can't get past anyone. If revelations like Xavi Espart live up to Gerard Martín's spirit, waiting for Cubarsí's return or Pedri's best version will feel much shorter. The months to make history will come.

All calm with Rodri. Barça's move for the Madrid player is interesting. Price – quite high for a 30-year-old player whose contract was ending – aside, they are signing a man who increases the level of a project. A Ballon d'Or winner. A leader on and off the field. It also frustrates Madrid's most obvious need: a holding midfielder in good shape. Some have criticized Rodri's arrival due to the blockage it could represent for Bernal, but we should be very calm. There are more matches than sausages, De Jong will be out for quite some time and the talent of the Berguedà native will be indispensable even when Rodri is ready to take charge. They are not the same type of midfielder, even though Bernal expressed himself at Elche as an attentive, precise, and generous pivot.

Not like this. There is a week and a bit left until the market closes, and the most exciting part regarding Flick's top priority signing is still up in the air: a center forward who can score the goals Lewandowski used to. In parallel, and in collusion with super-agent Jorge Mendes,, Barça is looking to move on certain players to generate funds. The reasoning is understandable: professional football is not an NGO, and there is a lot of money at stake. However, the way things have been handled with two La Masia talents like Balde and Casadó is unacceptable. The full-back hasn't been spoken to clearly until two days ago, and the midfielder, who has every right to doubt Saudi Arabia, has had his number 17 shirt taken away while he is still part of the squad. It doesn't take much more effort to do things with more tact.