Karim Adeyemi was officially introduced as Barcelona’s second summer signing on Thursday, and the German winger didn’t waste any time making his intentions clear. He’s here to win the Champions League, he wants to feed Lamine Yamal the ball, and he’s already planning to learn Spanish so he can connect with the younger guys in the locker room.
The 24-year-old arrives from Borussia Dortmund after a season that he himself admitted wasn’t his best. But Barcelona called anyway. And Adeyemi said yes without hesitating.
“When I found out, I couldn’t believe it,” Adeyemi told reporters. “My last season wasn’t the best. Flick has been a pillar of support. He told me to give it my all.”
That conversation with Hansi Flick turned out to be less about tactics and more about commitment. Adeyemi said the manager asked him one thing: Are you ready? The answer was yes.
The Flick factor and a shot at the Champions League
Flick has been the driving force behind this move. Adeyemi made that clear. The German manager, who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020, reportedly told Adeyemi exactly what this Barcelona project needs. And the winger is betting on himself to deliver it.
“It’s the main objective, but not the only one,” he said of winning the Champions League. “It’s the main reason. He told me what the club needed and I’ve come here to prove it.”
Adeyemi also made a point of praising the squad’s chemistry, something Flick had emphasized during their talks. “Flick has already told me it’s a family, that there’s a real sense of unity. It’s impressive that they’ve won a World Cup. I hope that will motivate us to achieve great things.”
Adeyemi on Lamine Yamal and the Ballon d’Or conversation
One of the more interesting moments came when Adeyemi was asked about Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s 18-year-old phenom who has already become one of the team’s biggest stars. The German didn’t hold back.
“I think he’s an incredible footballer. I can connect with him. He scores goals and you’ve got to feed him the ball.”
When the Ballon d’Or question came up — could Yamal win it one day? — Adeyemi gave a measured but honest answer. He pointed out that reaching Lionel Messi’s level is difficult, maybe impossible. But he didn’t rule it out for the teenager.
“Lamine wouldn’t mind if I said it’s difficult to reach Messi’s level. Lamine plays with a lot of freedom. He just needs to keep going his own way. And why shouldn’t he win it?”
Adeyemi also mentioned Messi and Ronaldinho as his childhood idols at Barcelona, which is the kind of answer that tends to go over well with the fanbase.
Versatility and a squad full of attacking talent
Barcelona’s attacking group is stacked. Anthony Gordon arrived earlier this summer. Raphinha and Ferran Torres are still there. Lamine Yamal is the crown jewel. So where does Adeyemi fit?
He didn’t seem worried about it. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve played in every position. I’m here to help the team.”
Adeyemi also brushed off any concern about fighting for playing time. “I’ve watched training and I’m looking forward to joining them. This is football. It’s my job.”
He’s expected to participate in his first full training session on Friday, having already met his teammates last week at the Ciutat Esportiva. The only thing that held him up was the paperwork.
“What I’m most looking forward to is being at the first training session, getting to know the players and enjoying this moment. And playing at the stadium too.”
For a guy who just called Barcelona “the best club in the world,” he’s about to find out if the feeling is mutual.
Leave a Comment