FC Barcelona managed to end their summer transfer window on a relatively high note given the major signings that they were able to procure and recruit for themselves before the window came to a close.
Two of those signings are Portuguese stars that Barca hope will elevate the team beyond their current capabilities.
29-year-old Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo and 23-year-old Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix both arrive on loan at the Catalan club. Their former experiences and displays of quality have many within Barcelona excited for what’s to come with their presence in the team.
However, an interesting evaluation regarding Joao Felix is his versatility and his effectiveness across the various positions that he has been deployed in before. Highlight by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, it becomes quite evident how effective he is in those different positions when his statistics are brought to light.
According to the data provided by MD, the Portuguese forward plays his best and most lethal football when deployed behind the primary number 9 as a secondary striker. In that position, the 23-year-old has managed 35 goals and provided 20 assists, more than any other position.
However, given that he will most likely not be deployed as a secondary striker at Barcelona and instead be used by Xavi Hernandez as primarily a left-winger, it would be worth noting that his effectiveness on the left flank of the offensive line has seen him score 13 goals and provide 8 assists, second only to his numbers as a second striker.
Felix is also adaptable enough to be deployed as a centre forward, an attacking midfielder and even as the team’s winger on the right side of the attack. However, his two best utilisations would be as either a secondary striker or a left-winger, with the latter being how Xavi mainly looks to use him.
His understanding with Balde and ability to transition into the Barcelona style of play will likely determine how valuable he becomes to this team given that the Catalan giants have already lost two natural left-wingers in the form of Ansu Fati and Ez Abde, with one of them set to return next season while the other remains permanently sold unless Barcelona trigger their buy-back clause.