As Barcelona close in on the permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United for 30 million euros with just a few loose ends left to tie up, the Blaugrana may need to consider an even bolder but just as obvious decision: the decision to start the England international.
No, not on the left wing. Raphinha is a must start in any universe for Barcelona and right there with Pedri and Lamine Yamal as one of the biggest superstars on this team.
At striker. Rashford needs to start at striker. Although he is a better left winger than a striker in terms of his playing style and skill set, Rashford at striker, despite being suboptimal, is still a much better solution than Ferran Torres at the No. 9.
Once again, Barcelona eviscerated an opponent in La Liga, defeating Villarreal 4-1. And once again, Torres was left wanting, performing poorly at striker despite greatness around him in midfield and on the wings, with Robert Lewandowski scoring off the bench at striker for the Blaugrana.
Lewandowski is aging with no future in Barca. But Ferran should not have a future at striker either, and if Rashford is a more ideal winger for Barca, then Torres is certainly a better fit as a winger on the bench than a starting striker.
Rashford is statistically the best finisher in the Champions League in terms of xG overperformance. The year of insults and pressure at Old Trafford have made him a more seasoned and consistent performer, but technical skill and finishing were never, ever the issue for Rashy.
With Raphinha and Yamal by his side, Rashford at the 9 on a regular basis could be what helps catapult Barcelona to another La Liga title, because he is the better footballer to Torres. Every Culer is starting to realize it, watching Ferran painfully walk through these games.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.