Arguably his team’s greatest player in 2024/2025, Raphinha pointed out that FC Barcelona wanted to … More
Arguably his team’s greatest player in 2024/2025, Raphinha pointed out that FC Barcelona wanted to sell him a year ago and also explained his recent goal celebration against Real Madrid during an interview with SPORT.
Signed from Leeds United in 2022, the Brazilian had trouble adapting in his first couple of seasons but worked hard and improved vastly under Hansi Flick while becoming Barca’s leader who racks up goals (34) and assists (25) for fun.
To the Catalan newspaper, though, Raphinha reminded us that some Barca leaders, board members and fans wanted him out of the club just a year ago, during a period of time when he was often linked with a transfer to Newcastle United or Saudi Arabia.
“It wasn’t just me who thought it; a lot of people wanted me to leave,” Raphinha said. “A lot of fans, maybe the board wasn’t happy with what I was doing, a lot of people.”
“I’m someone who thinks that if you’re not welcome somewhere, it’s better not to be there. There’s no point in banging your head against the wall. I’m clear about things.
“If they didn’t want me here, I’m leaving. I have personal goals; I want to play. Maybe before the season started, I thought I wouldn’t play, but I know myself. I know how I take care of myself, how I dedicate myself to my profession, and I know that when the manager changed, I had a new opportunity to show my potential and my way of working. This made me think about staying,” Raphinha further explained.
The number 11 also explained his celebration against Real Madrid, in a recent 4-3 win in El Clasico at Montjuic which effectively handed Barca the La Liga crown, where he pointed to his wrist.
Previously, the former head of Real Madrid’s medical services Niko Mihic made serious accusations in the media about the bandages that the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha wore on their hands.
“It could be that they are designing strategy games, playing a lot of table football and tendonitis… in the same way that it could be that they have not bribed Negreira. I don’t know what’s happening, but what I want to say is that any doctor knows that, if you want to have easier venous access, it’s in the hands and wrists,” said the Croatian, hinting at doping.
“It was dedicated to all the nonsense that has been said about it from Madrid. There have been a lot of lies,” Raphinha explained.
FC Barcelona star Raphinha is a Ballon d’Or candidate
Off the back of his best season, Raphinha is undoubtedly a Ballon d’Or candidate. Furthermore, FC Barcelona could effectively have three candidates on the France Football podium later this year in the 28-year-old, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri.
