- Martin Braithwaite replaces the outgoing Luis Suarez as the new Barcelona number 9.
- Braithwaite, who has scored just one goal in 11 appearances for Barcelona, needs to step up to the challenge now.
Other players like Riqui Puig, Ronald Araujo and Matheus Fernandes have all been promoted to the senior side and will wear the numbers 12, 4 and 19 respectively.
The biggest surprise is, however, that of Martin Braithwaite, and the fact that he will now don the iconic number 9 jersey has come as a shock to many.
New Barcelona signing Martin Braithwaite shows off his 'skills' during his on-pitch presentation pic.twitter.com/WajUWN7iqX
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 21, 2020
The 29-year-old was signed in controversial circumstances in February from Leganes following several injury concerns and was initially handed the number 19 jersey for his first seven months at the club.
Martin Braithwaite has big shoes to fill at Barcelona
Martin Braithwaite has now replaced the iconic Luis Suarez as the new Barcelona number 9, and this is no mean feat, considering the Uruguayan’s exceptional displays in his six years with the Blaugrana.
Suarez departed Camp Nou for Atletico Madrid in controversial circumstances at the end of the seaaon. But he left as the club’s third-highest goalscorer in history with 195 goals and 113 assists from 283 appearances in all competitions
The former Liverpool man, who was arguably one of the standout strikers in the world in his prime, helped Barcelona to 13 trophies while also forging a close relationship with skipper Lionel Messi both on and off the field.
The Denmark international has never been a prolific goalscorer during his spells with clubs like Leganes, Esbjberg, Bordeaux and Toulouse.
https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1313737303374921729
Barcelona operates at a much higher level than any of the sides Braithwaite has previously played for. He will need to considerably increase his output if he is to become more than a fleeting side-note in the rich annals of the Blaugrana.
Although it is unrealistic to expect Suarez or Eto’o-like numbers from Martin Braithwaite, the fact that the player apparently demanded for the number 9 jersey means that he is probably ready to step up.
With star forward Antoine Griezmann experiencing his struggles, the opportunity is there for Martin Braithwaite to make an impact, but whether he takes it or not remains to be seen.
