Finding a better player than Raphinha at the start of the season is not an easy mission. In the sights of many teams, starting with Saudi Arabia, during the last summer transfer window, the number 11 of FC Barcelona nevertheless came out of a generally contrasting 2023-2024 financial year. Enough to consider a departure. Author of 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 matches in all competitions, the 1m76 left-hander – hampered by a few injuries – was in fact considered more by Xavi as a luxury joker than an indisputable starter. Yes, but now, under the orders of Hansi Flick, the former Stade Rennais player is fully alive again at the start of the season. An essential pillar of the collective led by the former Germany coach, the Brazilian international (27 caps, 7 goals) shines brightly and continues to torture opposing defenses.
A great architect of the first place currently occupied by the Blaugranas in La Liga, Raphinha can, today, boast 6 goals and 6 assists after 11 matches in all competitions. Remarkable performances – like his new recital against Alavés just before the break – which finally logically assured him a place in the group called up by Dorival Júnior. Absent during the Seleção’s last meeting, the 27-year-old returned to play the two matches against Chile (October 11) then against Peru (October 16) as part of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup .
Raphinha panics the counters!
Starting against La Roja, on the night of Thursday to Friday, Raphinha was also one of the great architects of the success snatched by Brazil against the valiant Chileans (2-1). A success allowing his team to move up to 4th place in the ranking. In a number 10 role, the player passed by Leeds United has, in fact, once again demonstrated all his technical ease and his class in the construction of the game. A meeting where the person concerned could even have been rewarded with a new achievement after eliminating Brayan Cortés and scoring in the empty goal but the match referee finally returned to an offside position at the start of the action. Whatever.
Raphinha proves today that he is on cloud nine. To the delight of the Culers, of Brazil but also of its architect, Dorival Jr. “Raphinha, although he plays on the wing, has always attacked spaces a lot. He was perhaps the only player in the Copa America (in the United States), along with Endrick, who occupied spaces very well. Raphinha inside will be able to support us in the midfield sector”recalled, in this respect, the coach of the Selecao, determined to surf the “very nice dynamic” of his protégé with Barcelona. One thing is certain, Raphinha does not intend to stop there and Peru has already been warned…
