Few had it down as a good development for Raphinha when Lamine Yamal from Barcelona's youth arranges to make the position on the right side of itself.
That was where the Brazilian preferred to play, but his performances had been hot-and-cold since he had moved from Leeds United, the fans had not really warmed up and he seemed to leave because Barca needed money and there were willing vooragers in the Premier League.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were all interested when he left Elland Road in 2022 and offered more than Barcelona, but for a number of reasons he wanted a move to the Nou -camp.
One, his father had Ronaldinho Afafgood in Barca colors. Two, Deco, his agent and old mentor, had represented the Catalan giants and still had strong connections.
Deco, who issues the reimbursement of his agent to let the deal happen, is no longer an agent, but Barca's sports director and Raphinha perhaps the most important player in the team, suddenly prominent in the public debate about the best football player in the world.
It has been a remarkable transformation under Hansi Flick, who has maximized his versatility, speed and working speed, sometimes freely as no. 10 and often drove from the left with a license to drift.
The results have been exceptional. Raphinha has 13 goals and seven assists in 26 games in LaLiga this season. In the Champions League he has nine goals in nine games, making him the top scorer in the competition minus penalties.
Moreover, he influences large games on Key Times, a gift that elevates good in the ranks of the big, such as his goal in Benfica on Wednesday, to win a 1-0 win for 10-man Barcelona in the way of the last 16-drawing game.
Complete the victory and Flick's team will be confronted with Borussia Dortmund or Lille with the reward with the reward with the most important years of Lionel Messi with the most important years of Lionel Messi.
Raphinha leads the Crusade and this improved status is reflected in Brazil, where the boss Dorival Junior agreed last week that Raphinha was 'a serious candidate' for the Ballon d'Or.
The main coach of Brazil is expected to move forward 28-year-old Barcelona in an attacking quartet with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo from Real Madrid, and Neymar, who was born another after his return to Santos, for upcoming World Cup qualifications to Colombia and Argeninia.
Dorival also missed a chance to gently dislike the media, and reminded them of how Raphinha was one of the most criticized Copa America when Brazil flopped.
Those who are aware of Raphinha's origin story never doubted his competitive courage.
He spent six of his teenage years in the Varzea, the network of unofficial amateur competitions of Brazil, where they often play on red fields without nets or kits, and where intimidation is common.
“The Varzea makes your hot head,” he told Josue Sixas of Mail Sport, while he was at Leeds in 2021. “If you can't be aggressive and focused, the boys will eat you.”
It made him a career that was anything but a charmed procession, by non -modern outdoor posts such as Avaí in Florianopolis, Vitória Guimarães in Portugal and to Rennes in France after a year at Sporting.
Two years at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa was spent on fighting to survive in the Premier League before sealing his dream movement to Barcelona. His success is for those who fight and refuse. Nobody eats him.
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