Flick’s call that changed Raphinha’s career: “I knew I was leaving”

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·25 September 2026

Flick’s call that changed Raphinha’s career: “I knew I was leaving”

Raphinha came very close to leaving Barcelona in 2024. The Brazilian had all but decided to look for a new destination, but a phone call from Hansi Flick ended up changing his plans and, over time, his career as well.

In a conversation with The Guardian, Süddeutsche Zeitung and La Gazzetta, the forward recalled that moment and acknowledged the impact the German coach had on his journey.

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“Flick changed my mindset and changed me as a person.”

“In my head, I knew I was leaving”

When Flick arrived on the Barça bench in 2024, Raphinha did not feel like an indispensable part of the project. On top of that, one of Barcelona’s main goals was to sign Nico Williams, a situation that increased the Brazilian’s doubts about his future.

The decision seemed made.

“In my head, I knew I was leaving. It was already decided, that’s the truth.”

But before closing any move, Flick decided to get in touch with him while Raphinha was in Brazil.

The call that changed everything

The German coach asked him to meet with him before making a final decision. In that conversation, Flick told him something Raphinha needed to hear: he had his trust and would be important for the new Barcelona.

“I was in Brazil and Flick called me. He told me to come talk to him before making a final decision. I met with him and he told me he trusted me, that I was going to be important, that the team’s style of play would suit me well.”

Those words ended up changing the Brazilian’s perspective.

“At a moment like that, just a few words can change you. I felt he had a lot of faith in me. He gave me the confidence I needed to play my way.”

Raphinha decided to stay and respond on the pitch.

“An idea got into my head: give everything, your very life, no matter what personal moment you are going through.”

From wanting to leave to becoming captain

Flick’s bet ended up paying off. Raphinha went from considering an exit to becoming one of Barcelona’s main attacking leaders.

His development even led the German coach to give him even greater responsibility: making him the team’s first captain.

And the Brazilian has responded with historic numbers.

After seven LaLiga matchdays, he has 12 goals, to which he added two more on his Champions League debut. In addition, this season he has evolved into a more central role, playing as a forward in the absence of a natural ‘9’.

He now also wears Brazil’s ‘10’

Raphinha’s transformation also extends to the Brazilian national team. The attacker inherited the historic number 10 shirt, previously worn by figures such as Pelé and Neymar.

So the player who in 2024 had decided to leave Barcelona now wears the club captain’s armband and carries one of Brazil’s most iconic shirt numbers.

It all started with a phone call.

The conversation with Flick not only convinced Raphinha to stay: .

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.