Raphinha: ‘If Flick hadn’t come, I would have left Barcelona’ | OneFootball

The transformation of Raphinha at FC Barcelona over the last season and a half has been something very special.

The Brazilian winger arrived at the club in the summer of 2022 from Leeds United for around €65 million, but his first couple of seasons were not at the level expected.

But everything changed last season following the arrival of Hansi Flick as manager, with Raphinha now one of the most dangerous attackers in the game and one of the club captains.

And the former Leeds United attacker points directly to the German tactician as the key figure behind his resurgence.

Indeed, in a recent chat with BBC, Raphinha credited Flick for his resurgence, stating that before the German arrived, he was even considering leaving Barcelona.

“If Hansi Flick hadn’t come, I would have left Barca. He changed everything,” he said.

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“He told me that I was going to be important. That’s what a player needs – confidence.”

The Brazilian international acknowledged that under Xavi Hernandez, that reassurance was missing, and his poor performances led him to seriously consider a move away.

“There was a lot of self-doubt,” Raphinha said when reflecting on his first couple of seasons at the club.

“I have a nasty habit of criticising myself heavily, so that pressure made me think about leaving.”

Raphinha’s career has taken a dramatic turn since the German coach took charge of the Barça bench. With Flick in command, the Brazilian has scored 45 goals and provided 26 assists in 74 appearances.

It is clear that the pair shares a close bond and have mutually benefitted from the partnership, while helping Barcelona achieve success.