Karim Adeyemi gave Barcelona flashes of his pace and attacking ambition on his first appearance against Birmingham, but Hansi Flick believes the Germany forward has much more to offer after an imprecise opening 45 minutes.
Adeyemi’s debut featured several rapid bursts forward, early diagonal passes and a willingness to demand possession. However, his contribution was defined more by brief moments of promise than by sustained influence during his first half in a Barcelona shirt.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Adeyemi’s limited time in training was evident. Fatigue may also have affected his decision-making, with the forward sometimes choosing the wrong pass during transitions, accelerating play when patience was required or struggling to complete attacking moves.
Flick was not surprised by an uneven first outing and has already identified the areas in which Adeyemi must improve. The Barcelona manager said: “He has much greater potential than he showed. In training I have seen a better Karim.”
The comments underline Flick’s belief that Adeyemi’s first appearance should be viewed as an early indication of what he could bring rather than a complete assessment of his ability. His speed was immediately apparent, while his personality was also on display as he repeatedly looked to receive the ball and take responsibility in attacking situations.
At the same time, the forward’s performance lacked accuracy and at times appeared rushed. Those shortcomings were particularly noticeable when Barcelona moved quickly from defence into attack, with Adeyemi occasionally selecting an unsuitable option or attempting to force the tempo.
Flick does not regard those issues as a major concern at this stage of the pre-season. Adeyemi has only been training for a short period, leaving him time to improve his understanding, timing and execution before he is judged more fully.
The Barcelona manager nevertheless has a clear expectation of the German international. Flick sees Adeyemi as a player capable of adding depth, intensity and competition to the squad, while also providing the team with greater threat and the ability to make a difference from wide areas.
His debut therefore served as an announcement of intent rather than confirmation that he has already reached his best level. Adeyemi showed the acceleration to unsettle opponents and the confidence to seek involvement, but he did not yet consistently turn those qualities into productive actions.
The version of Adeyemi that Flick expects is still to emerge. For now, the coach has given the forward a clear indication of what must be refined after his opening appearance: better choices in transition, greater composure when attacks require patience and more reliable finishing.
Barcelona will hope those improvements allow Adeyemi’s raw pace and attacking drive to develop into the greater impact Flick believes he can provide.
