Karim Adeyemi joining Barcelona is not too surprising. Although it is difficult to compete for a position with Lamine Yamal on the right flank, this is still considered an ideal destination for the German striker to find himself under the guidance of Hansi Flick.
Flick was the one who gave Adeyemi the opportunity to debut for the German national team in 2021, when he was still a young talent of Red Bull Salzburg. After many years, the two have the opportunity to reunite again in the context that Adeyemi needs a suitable environment to fully develop his potential.
At the age of 24, Adeyemi still has a lot of time to develop. However, the feeling that he has been playing professionally for too long stems from the fact that this player soon affirmed his name. Before joining Dortmund in 2022, Adeyemi had nearly 100 appearances for Salzburg, after a period of maturity from the reserve team of Liefering and playing in the Austrian second division from the age of 16.
Looking back at that journey, Adeyemi always considers Salzburg as the perfect choice to develop his career: "The most important thing for a young player is to play. I have played with players who have grown up since I was 16 years old and that is the best way to adapt to top football.
In Dortmund's colors, Adeyemi is not lacking in explosive moments. Speed is always his most powerful weapon. Right in his first season in the Bundesliga, the German striker reached a maximum speed of 36.65 km/h - the fastest in the league.
When asked if he was the fastest player in the Bundesliga, Adeyemi did not hesitate to answer: "Yes. I am very confident about that".
Although his speed is still among the top in the Bundesliga in the last two seasons, Adeyemi has not been able to take another step to become a true star at Dortmund.
He made his mark with important goals, such as the decisive goal against Atalanta in the Champions League or goals against Stuttgart. However, instability makes Adeyemi often the focus of criticism.
In December last year, his dissatisfied reaction after being substituted in the match against Borussia Monchengladbach caused him to receive many mixed opinions. Former German international Markus Babbel even questioned the fighting spirit of this striker.
Unlike Dortmund, Barcelona does not require Adeyemi to become the number one star in attack. After a season scoring 95 goals in La Liga, the Catalan team only needs a fast player who can create breakthroughs from the bench and play flexibly in many positions. And Adeyemi fully meets those requirements.
I can play in most positions in attack. My job is to constantly cause difficulties for defenders with one-on-one situations, sprinting situations behind the defense, while scoring and assisting" - the German striker once shared.
In the context that Yamal has just gone through a tense World Cup with the Spanish national team, Barcelona needs even more quality rotation options. Adeyemi can completely take on that role.
Flick's philosophy is also very suitable for players like Adeyemi. Although Barcelona controlled the ball the most in La Liga last season with an average rate of 69%, the German strategist always prioritized speed on both wings to create breakthroughs in transitions.
That is Adeyemi's greatest strength. The German striker is facing an important turning point in his career. Like Raphinha, who exploded after joining Barcelona at the age of 25, Adeyemi could completely write a similar story if he could regain stability under Flick's hand.
