Hansi Flick has made it clear that Barcelona are still assessing Karim Adeyemi’s place in the squad after a debut he felt fell short of the standard expected. The forward featured against Birmingham City just eight days after completing his move from Borussia Dortmund, and Flick was candid in his view of what followed.

“Karim, some things he did were not that good. I think he has more potential to show, but he is still in the first week of training so that’s normal,” Flick summarized. “I’ve seen a better Karim in training with his speed and finishing, but he has a lot of potential and can give us a lot.”

Adeyemi has arrived to add depth on the flanks, in a similar way to Anthony Gordon, but the routes to regular minutes are different. While Gordon could eventually stand in for Raphinha on the left, Adeyemi faces a much tougher task on the right because Lamine Yamal occupies that role. His most realistic work is expected to come in less demanding La Liga fixtures, especially those placed between Champions League weeks, along with Copa del Rey ties. A sustained run would likely depend on injury to the teenager.

That makes the need for immediate impact all the more important when Adeyemi does get opportunities. Barcelona’s recent standard in that backup role was shaped by Marcus Rashford, whose 28 goals and assists in all competitions proved valuable whenever Yamal or Raphinha were unavailable. Even so, reports late last season suggested the Catalans still wanted more from him without the ball.

A permanent move for Rashford never made enough financial sense when Gordon was available on a similar annual cost, and the 28-year-old has already accepted that he will not be back at Camp Nou for 2026-27 now that Adeyemi has also arrived. Even so, his spell appears to have left an impression on Flick.

Manchester United’s belief in Premier League success is not confined to one player or one speech. It runs through the dressing room, the manager and the club’s leadership, which makes the confidence around Old Trafford difficult to dismiss entirely.

Leny Yoro summed up the mood during the club’s pre-season tour, saying: “The mood is really good,” Yoro told assembled media during the club’s preseason tour. “We work really hard, and outside the pitch, we have a good vibe, good mood. So the target this season is to win every game, to be honest. For the team to be the best, for myself to do good games every time, to win trophies, and to be at the top.”

That sort of ambition would sound familiar after United’s strong second-half run last season, when they climbed to third and briefly sparked talk of a title challenge in 2025-26. Under Carrick across the full campaign, the club has not been shy about aiming high.

Carrick, usually careful with public declarations, still allowed himself a glimpse of the club’s scale. “From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United,” the former midfielder said.

“Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride. Throughout the past five months, this group of players have shown they can reach the standards of resilience, togetherness and determination that we demand here.

“Now it’s time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose. Manchester United and our incredible supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honors again.”

Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes have also spoken in the same spirit, while Omar Berrada has publicly pointed to 2028 as the club’s target for a return to the top.

There is substance behind the optimism. Since Carrick returned in January, United have collected more points and scored more goals than any other side in the division across 17 games. Their attack was among the league’s most productive, boosted by summer investment in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško.

But the next step will ask more of them. Champions League football is back, the schedule is heavier, and the continuity that helped United last season may now be tested by the demands of rotation and deeper competition.

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Valentín Barco from Strasbourg, completing a move that had been expected for almost four months. The deal raises the familiar question of where he fits under Alonso, though this transfer appears to belong more to the recruitment team than to the manager himself.

Reports first linked Chelsea with Barco in early April, when Liam Rosenior was still in charge. Two days after Alonso was appointed in May, Barco said farewell to Strasbourg in public, even though the move had not yet been officially announced. That timeline points to a signing shaped by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, along with recruitment chiefs Joe Shields and Sam Jewell.

Their position is under pressure after several seasons of heavy spending that have brought limited success on the pitch. Many supporters welcomed Alonso gaining more influence over recruitment, but Barco may be one of the final remnants of the previous structure.

There is, though, a clear football case for the 22-year-old. Some Premier League followers will remember a red-haired youngster who struggled across seven appearances at left back for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023-24, but this is a different player. Since joining Strasbourg in early 2025, Barco has developed into a versatile midfielder asked to contribute in both directions, and he has done that job well.

That versatility is a major part of his appeal. Earlier in his career he was viewed as a left back who could step into midfield, but the current version looks more like a midfielder who can also operate on the left when required. He offers a squad option in at least two positions, which suits the demands of the modern game.

Chelsea do not face European commitments this season, yet there is a clear ambition to return to playing twice a week in 2027-28, when Barco’s value could become even more obvious. Alonso will now decide how best to use him, especially with new signings already arriving in the same areas Barco appears strongest.