Why did Barcelona sign Paco Alcacer from Valencia?
The striker has been handed the difficult taks of proving backup for Luis Suarez
This summer Barcelona invested 32 million euros in the striker Paco Alcacer. The performances of the player, until now, do not justify the money paid to Valencia at all. He has played just 323 minutes in eight games (seven in La Liga, one in the Champions League) and has not scored a single goal. His statistics so far include just eight shots, as well as four off sides and 16 lost balls. But you have to have patience. A lot of patience…
Because the role that Alcacer has taken on is not easy: to be the backup to the best No.9 in the world, Luis Suarez. Barça signed him precisely for that, to be the understudy to the Uruguayan, who didn’t previously have one in the squad. As someone who would have minutes throughout his debut season at the club to give Suarez a rest. It’s a titanic task because Suarez is a key part of the side. And the 59 goals he scored last season prove that he’s irreplaceable.
Why invest, then, so much money in a player who’s going to be eternally on the bench? Well, because the club (or better said, Luis Enrique), didn’t have confidence in the strikers that had come through La Masia. Sandro left on a free (for Malaga, Barça’s next opponents) and Munir was sent on loan to Valencia. And neither did they see it fit to give opportunities to any of the younger forwards. That is not Paco Alcacer’s fault.
Alcacer is now facing his particular hour of truth. He will probably start against Malaga. And in this weekend’s game he must break his drought in front of goal. And put an end to his anxiety. And demonstrate, therefore, that he can be a good substitute for the MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar). It’s something which, until now, he’s not been able to demonstrate.
