CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Levante UD |
| League | La Liga |
| Manager | Luís Castro |
| Stadium | Ciutat de València |
| Nickname | Los Granotes |
| Founded | 1909 |
| First-Choice Forward | Iván Romero |
| Marquee Summer Signing | Yanis Musuayi (from Club Brugge) |
| Deadline-Day Arrival | Petar Ratkov (from RB Salzburg) |
| Supporting Forward | Karl Etta Eyong |
| Notable Departure | Carlos Espí (to Real Madrid, €25m) |
The Defining Moment
Levante’s 2026/27 forward line was defined by a sale that the club could not refuse and a gamble that it could not avoid. On 30 July 2026, Carlos Espí—the 21-year-old striker whose eleven goals in the final stretch of the previous season had powered Levante to a miraculous survival—was sold to Real Madrid for €25 million, the second-highest transfer in the club’s history. The money was essential. Levante’s sporting director, Héctor Rodas, had been working with a Financial Fair Play margin of just five million euros, a figure that made building a competitive squad “practically impossible” without generating funds through sales.
The defining moment came not in a goal, but in the replacement strategy. Luís Castro, the Portuguese manager who had engineered the great escape after arriving in December, turned to a 19-year-old Belgian who had never played a senior match for Club Brugge. Yanis Musuayi arrived for approximately €2.5 million, a fee that represented a significant investment for a club with Levante’s constraints. He was joined on deadline day by Petar Ratkov, a 22-year-old Serbian striker from RB Salzburg, and supported by Iván Romero, the homegrown forward who had survived the club’s recent upheavals, and Karl Etta Eyong, a Cameroonian prospect.
The early numbers tell a story of adaptation and struggle. Levante have scored 16 goals in their opening ten league matches, a respectable return for a side sitting fourteenth. But the distribution is telling. Iván Romero, the most experienced forward, has three goals in ten appearances, playing 688 minutes. Musuayi has yet to score in four appearances, totaling 125 minutes. Ratkov has contributed one assist in six appearances, playing 254 minutes. The goals that Espí provided have not been replaced. The forwards are working, pressing, and creating space. They are not scoring with the frequency that survival demands.
This is the story of Levante’s 2026/27 forwards: a homegrown survivor carrying the burden, a teenage Belgian thrust into the spotlight, a Serbian deadline-day arrival seeking his feet, and a supporting cast of academy graduates and veterans navigating the most unforgiving league in Europe.
Tactical Context
Luís Castro’s attacking system is built on pragmatism and sacrifice. Levante have alternated between a 4-4-2 and a 4-2-3-1, with the forwards instructed to press selectively, drop deep to receive possession, and launch counter-attacks through the pace of the wide players. The approach reflects the reality of a squad that averages just 42.7% possession, the third-lowest in La Liga. The forwards are not asked to dominate centre-backs or hold the ball up for extended periods; they are asked to run, to stretch defences, and to convert the few chances that arrive.
The numbers reflect a forward line that is involved in the collective but lacks penetration. Levante have faced 16.0 shots per match, the most in La Liga, a statistic that begins with the team’s inability to control games and protect the defence. In that context, the forwards’ role is defensive as much as attacking: they are the first line of the press, the players who chase lost causes and force opponents into rushed clearances. Romero’s three goals have come from a combination of intelligent movement and clinical finishing, but he has been starved of service for long periods.
The structural issue is adaptation. Musuayi arrived from Club Brugge’s youth setup, where he had impressed in the Youth League but never played senior football. The step up to La Liga is brutal for a teenager, even one with his physical attributes. Ratkov arrived from Salzburg on deadline day, thrust into a squad still finding its rhythm. Etta Eyong, at 23, has shown flashes—a goal and an assist in five appearances—but his consistency remains an issue. Romero, the most experienced of the group at 25, has been the most reliable, but he cannot carry the burden alone.
The risk is clear. Levante cannot rely indefinitely on goals from midfield and set-pieces. The forwards must start converting the chances that arrive. Castro has already acknowledged the challenge, and the January window may offer an opportunity to add another attacking option—though the club’s financial constraints make significant investment unlikely.
The Forwards
Iván Romero
Romero is Levante’s most reliable forward, the homegrown striker who has survived the club’s recent upheavals and become the de facto leader of the attacking line. The 25-year-old from La Solana has started ten league matches, playing 688 minutes, and has scored three goals.
His profile is that of the mobile, technically gifted forward. At 172 cm, Romero is not a target man in the mould of Espí, nor a pure poacher. He is at his best when drifting into wide areas, linking play with the midfield, and arriving in the box late. His goal against Villarreal in September, a composed finish in a 3-1 defeat, demonstrated the quality that has made him a fan favourite at the Ciutat de València.
The context of his season matters. Romero has been at Levante since his youth days and has experienced the club’s relegation, promotion, and survival battles. At 25, he is in his prime, and his importance to a young squad cannot be overstated. He is the player Castro trusts to lead the line, to set the tone for the press, and to deliver in the moments that matter.
The limitation is the burden. Romero has played the majority of minutes, and the lack of a proven alternative means he cannot be rested. If he suffers an injury or a dip in form, Levante’s attacking threat diminishes significantly.
Yanis Musuayi
Musuayi is Levante’s marquee summer signing, the 19-year-old Belgian striker signed from Club Brugge for approximately €2.5 million as the natural replacement for Carlos Espí. He has made four league appearances, playing 125 minutes, and has yet to score.
His profile is that of the raw, athletic forward. At 19, Musuayi has the physical attributes to succeed—height, pace, and a willingness to run in behind—but his lack of senior experience has been evident. He impressed in the Youth League, attracting attention from clubs across Europe, but the step up to La Liga is a different proposition entirely.
The context of his arrival matters. Musuayi was signed as an investment in potential, not as an immediate solution. The €2.5 million fee represented a significant outlay for a club with Levante’s constraints, a reflection of the belief that he could develop into a long-term asset. At 19, he has time to adapt. But Levante do not have time. They need goals now.
The concern is readiness. Musuayi’s brief appearances have shown flashes of his talent—a sharp turn, a well-timed run—but he has not yet shown the composure in front of goal that La Liga demands. Castro must manage his integration carefully, protecting him from the pressures of a relegation battle while finding opportunities for him to learn and grow.
Petar Ratkov
Ratkov is Levante’s deadline-day arrival, the 22-year-old Serbian striker signed from RB Salzburg to provide competition and depth in the forward line. He has made six league appearances, playing 254 minutes, and has contributed one assist.
His profile is that of the physical, developing centre-forward. At 193 cm, Ratkov offers a presence that no other forward in the squad possesses—height, strength in the air, and the ability to hold the ball up under pressure. He is not the most mobile forward, nor the most technically refined, but in games where Levante need a focal point, he offers something different.
The context of his arrival matters. Ratkov was signed on deadline day after Levante’s attempts to land other targets collapsed due to financial constraints. He arrived with little time to adapt to his new teammates, his new league, and his new manager’s demands. His early performances have been understandably uneven.
Karl Etta Eyong
Eyong is the Cameroonian forward who has emerged as a valuable squad option. The 23-year-old has made five league appearances, playing 113 minutes, and has contributed one goal and one assist.
His profile is that of the energetic, direct forward. Eyong is quick, comfortable running at defenders, and capable of scoring from unlikely angles. In a team that creates few chances, his ability to conjure something from nothing is valuable. His goal and assist in limited minutes reflect a player who makes an impact when called upon.
Brugui and Thiago Fernández
Brugui, the 29-year-old captain, has been Levante’s leading scorer with five league goals, though he is deployed primarily as a wide midfielder rather than a forward. His contribution has been invaluable in compensating for the forwards’ struggles. Thiago Fernández, a 22-year-old Argentine, has provided width and creativity from the flanks.
Their roles are clear: provide goals and assists from wide areas, supporting the central strikers. Brugui’s five goals are a testament to his importance, but they also highlight the forwards’ failure to contribute at the same rate.
Paco Cortés and the Academy Prospects
Cortés, an 18-year-old academy graduate, has made six league appearances, playing 84 minutes. He is not yet ready for consistent first-team minutes, but his presence reflects Levante’s commitment to developing homegrown talent. Kareem Tunde, a 20-year-old, has also featured sparingly.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Levante UD Forward La Liga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iván Romero | 10 (10) | 688 | 3 | 0 | FW |
| Petar Ratkov | 6 (2) | 254 | 0 | 1 | FW |
| Yanis Musuayi | 4 (1) | 125 | 0 | 0 | FW |
| Karl Etta Eyong | 5 (1) | 113 | 1 | 1 | FW |
| Paco Cortés | 6 (0) | 84 | 0 | 0 | FW |
TABLE B: Levante UD Forward Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Levante Goals Scored (La Liga) | 16 | 1.60 per game; mid-table |
| Goals by Recognised Strikers | 4 | Romero (3), Eyong (1) |
| Espí Goals Replaced | 11 | Sold to Real Madrid for €25m |
| Brugui Goals | 5 | Leading scorer from wide midfield |
TABLE C: Forward Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iván Romero | Spain | Levante (academy), Sevilla | Mobile, technical, links play, drifts wide |
| Yanis Musuayi | Belgium | Club Brugge (academy) | Athletic, raw, runs in behind, developing |
| Petar Ratkov | Serbia | RB Salzburg | Physical target man, aerial presence, hold-up play |
| Karl Etta Eyong | Cameroon | Levante (academy) | Energetic, direct, impact substitute |
| Brugui | Spain | Levante, Elche | Wide forward, goalscorer, captain |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Levante’s forward line is a study in adaptation under duress. The sale of Espí removed the only proven goalscorer from a squad that had few alternatives. The response—signing a teenager from Club Brugge and a deadline-day arrival from Salzburg—was pragmatic rather than ideal. The forwards have worked, pressed, and created space for the midfielders. They have not scored with the frequency that survival demands.
The balance is fragile. Romero has been the most reliable, his three goals and consistent performances providing a platform. Musuayi and Ratkov are still adapting, their potential undeniable but their immediate contribution limited. Etta Eyong has shown flashes. Brugui’s goals from wide areas have compensated, but that is not sustainable over a 38-game season.
The contrast with last season is instructive. In 2025/26, Espí scored eleven goals in the final stretch to power Levante’s survival. This season, no forward has more than three. The goals have come from midfield—Bardeli’s spectacular strike against Betis, Brugui’s five—and from set-pieces. That distribution is a reflection of a forward line still finding its feet.
The risk is January. Levante’s financial constraints mean any addition will be pragmatic—a loan, a free transfer, or a modest fee. But the need is undeniable. Without goals from the forward line, Levante’s survival hopes rest on the midfield continuing to overperform.
The Verdict from the Camp
EFE, on Musuayi’s arrival:
“Castro will have in his ranks the Belgian forward Yanis Musuayi, 19 years old and who has not even debuted with Club Brugge. He is Levante’s great bet, having invested around 2.5 million euros for the player who caught the eye in the Youth League and who becomes the natural replacement for Carlos Espí.”
Diario AS, on the forward options:
“Without Espí, Luís Castro looks for the step forward from the goal man. Musuayi arrives as a great bet, but his immediate performance is an uncertainty, as is that of Etta Eyong. Iván Romero is capable of playing on both wings and even as a third midfielder. Brugui will be the team captain and Thiago Fernández provides overflow. Ratkov, the last reinforcement.”
Héctor Rodas, Levante sporting director, on the transfer constraints:
“We had a Financial Fair Play margin of just five million euros. A quantity that made it practically impossible to register and sign enough players to make a squad competitive enough to survive another season in Primera División.”
Where Next?
Levante’s forward priority is goals. Romero’s three goals are a respectable return for a player of his quality, but he cannot carry the burden alone. Musuayi and Ratkov must adapt quickly, or Castro must find alternative solutions within the squad.
The January window may offer an opportunity to add another forward, but Levante’s financial constraints are well-documented. The €25 million received for Espí was essential for the club’s viability, but it has not been fully reinvested in the forward line. A loan move or a low-cost signing may be the extent of the club’s business.
The longer-term question is Musuayi’s development. The Belgian teenager was signed as an investment in potential, a player who could develop into a long-term asset. If he fulfils that potential, Levante’s forward problems ease. If he does not, the €2.5 million fee will weigh heavily on a club with limited resources.
For now, Levante’s forwards are the weakest link in a survival bid that has confounded expectations. Romero’s goals have provided a lifeline. Musuayi’s potential offers hope. Ratkov’s physicality creates space. But hope and space are not goals. And in a season where every point matters, Levante need their forwards to start delivering.
