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Carles Aleñá, Barcelona's next false 9?
[A THREAD]
![Carles Aleñá, Barcelona's next false 9?[A THREAD]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmfeDKOXEAEWza-.jpg "Carles Aleñá, Barcelona's next false 9?[A THREAD]")
[A THREAD]
Since 2016, there's been great talks about Barcelona's Carles Aleñá, who has debuted in that same year with the first team. He's described as Barcelona's next top midfielder with Riqui Puig, however, I believe that he should be a false 9 - which I will explain in this thread.
Carles Alena is a modern midfielder. In other words, he excells in multiple areas, and these include dribbling, technique, spatial awareness but also good physique, a low centre of gravity in his case.
Before I start talking about his offensive prowess, I'd like to talk about his defensive contribution. As a Barcelona player, pressing is considered important. He excells there as he likes to close passing lanes thanks to his spatial awareness.
1.48 Int/game. Not a bad CAM.
1.48 Int/game. Not a bad CAM.
Let's go to the best part - his technicality. Carles is excellent when it comes to through balls, which often end up in assists or pre-assists. He's used to being pressurized but his spatial awareness allows him to be two steps ahead of his rivals, unleashing the pass well-timed
His one touch is surely above average, just like his passing. And more than short passing, Carles can create from the deep. He's perfectly able to start deeper in order to unleash a long pass to eliminate one or two rivals, thus explaining his passes into the final 1/3.
Of course, passing is great. Vision is great, but it's also his dribbling. Little, he was often said to be the "Maradona of Mataro" because of his hair and dribbling style with a low gravity centre. Progressive dribbling isn't uncommon and is perhaps one his essential features.
More than his dribbling, it's his mature decision making that makes him such a special player. Carles doesn't dribble aimlessly, but sometimes allows himself to slow down in order to trick his opponents, or to unleash an unexpected pass. Result of being two steps ahead.
Notably, like any La masia made midfielder, it's his body orientation that makes the difference. He will trick the opponent into thinking he is going into one direction to finally go in the opposite one. This once again allow him to create superiorities by bypassing rivals.
But his maturity doesn't only come in his dribbling. as CAM, he often gets into shooting positions, results of him creating space for himself or his teammates. As a result, he has developed a cold blooded mentality that is essential for any professional player.
While his 18/19 season is considered as his breakout seaosn a she played around 20 matches under Valverde's leadership, Carles was injured early in 17/18. However, not only did he recover physically, but his mentality meant he came back stronger than ever. Mentality above all.
That is about the player. Now, there are few reasons why I believe he'd be a false 9. Firstly, we all know that 9's like Suarez are almost impossible to find, especially less at an affordable price considering Barcelona's bankruptcy scare. A false nine could be a solution.
As I've mentioned it, Carles' positioning means that he likes to drop between lines, he can advance thanks to his dribbling and he creates space for himself or his teammates. He create superiorities, but Carles is also someone who liked to score goals.
Carles' playmaking skills therefore mean he's likely to be able to get the ball into the final third, and he excells at the one touch. In Spain's tough defences, it's a very important skill. Thefore, I believe his set of skills is more than suited to this false nine position.
Some may think I may be exxagerating, but in terms of playing style (NOT QUALITY!), I believe he's the closes to Leo. His right foot is his weaker foot as he's barely doing anything w/ it, but his left foot is amazing. Carles has it all to become a false nine, to me.
