Braithwaite Refuses To Throw Towels

JAKARTA - The transfer window has been closed. Barcelona failed to bring in a new striker to cover up Luis Suarez's departure to Atletico Madrid. However, now they have squad members wearing the No. 9 belongs to a Uruguayan: Martin Braithwaite.

Lyon's Memphis Depay has been Barcelona's main target in the final days of the exchange, having failed in their bid to reach a deal with Inter for Lautaro Martinez. But the club wage limit imposed by La Liga prevented the Dutchman from moving to Camp Nou.

Depay can still join in January, but until the time comes Ronald Koeman will have to be satisfied with what he has now. That could force him to seriously consider Braithwaite, whom Barcelona is trying to sell in the summer.

The Dane has always said he wants to succeed at Camp Nou and has built a reputation at the club as a hard worker. The problem he found was that in Koeman's 4-2-3-1 system, Lionel Messi has played as a striker - albeit more as a false nine - and so it is difficult to imagine Braithwaite displacing the Argentine.

But with the start of the Champions League, rotation will certainly be needed to ensure that Barcelona players are in prime condition, especially as they will have a prestigious El Clasico match on 24 October. This means that Koeman can give Braithwaite at least a few minutes on the pitch.

"My motivation to improve is to win trophies and show the best version of myself. I feel very proud to wear the Barca number 9 jersey," he said on social media.

Braithwaite joined Barcelona from Leganes as an emergency transfer in February following Ousmane Dembele's long-term injury and sidelined Suarez. But its contribution is dwindling due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of Suarez.

As a result, the 29-year-old player was only able to appear in 11 matches in all competitions, starting from four games and scoring one goal, against Real Mallorca.

Koeman may choose to test Braithwaite when Barcelona take on Getafe on the road as club football resumes at the weekend. The forward has three months to convince his coach and the club that he has a future at Camp Nou.

It's certainly not easy, but Braithwaite never gives up.