Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has given his view on the club’s ongoing search for a new striker to replace Robert Lewandowski.
According to Spanish media, the Uruguayan star believes Barcelona needs a more traditional No. 9, similar to Lewandowski’s style. He differentiated between types of forwards — a number nine who plays alongside another striker and roams the pitch, and a classic No. 9 who anchors center-backs and operates with two wingers.
Suarez said, "Considering how Barça plays today, I think they need a more traditional number nine, like Lewandowski was, complemented by the work Ferran does. But arriving at Barcelona and performing from day one is not easy. If you score four or five goals in your first few games, you immediately set the bar high."
When asked about his favorite current No. 9s, Suarez named three:
"I have two or three. Haaland is a lethal number nine in the box, though the team has to play for him. I prefer Harry Kane. He links up much better with teammates, makes moves thinking about their counter-moves, and sees the game differently. I love those kinds of details. Then there’s Darwin Núñez. The first thing he has to do is change his mentality and strengthen it, because he has spectacular qualities. He knows the decision he made leaving Liverpool, but I see him as a player who can be fully recovered. If he reaches his best level, I love him as a striker. He’s fast, strong, powerful… There are aspects he can still improve because he’s young and still growing."
Haaland, Kane, and Núñez have all been linked with Barcelona at different times, but the club’s priority remains signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico.
Suarez’s comments highlight the club’s preference for a classic center-forward to lead the attack and score goals in the coming seasons.
