Raphinha goes from considering an exit to becoming a Barcelona leader thanks to Flick’s confidence

Xavi Espinosa, writing in Sport, details Raphinha’s transformation since joining Barcelona: from considering a departure in the summer of 2024 to becoming one of the team’s leading figures, after earning the confidence of coach Hansi Flick and improving his performances and personality on the pitch.

Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United in the summer of 2022 for 58 million euros, plus 7 million in add-ons. He scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in his first season, then scored the same number of goals and provided 13 assists in his second, despite the criticism and doubts surrounding his future.

The report attributes the turning point to Flick’s confidence in Raphinha, his greater use of the player on the left wing and the attacking freedom he gave him. In the 2024-2025 season, the player scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists, according to Barcelona’s official statistics, helping the team win domestic and continental titles.

Flick named Raphinha Barcelona’s first captain for the 2026-2027 season. He has also used him as a false nine this season, and the player has scored 19 goals in 13 matches: 15 in La Liga and 4 in the Champions League, according to the club’s statistics.

The report says Raphinha has scored 94 goals in 190 appearances for Barcelona, ranking fourth among Brazilians in the club’s history for goals and appearances. He renewed his contract until 30 June 2030, a move the report described as affirming his standing and importance to the future of the Catalan project.