Workout
Meditation
Contact Us
Raphinha has once again made Barcelona aware that his performances in the first half of the season were not a coincidence.
The Brazilian has started 2025 on an emphatic note, with his most recent attack against Real Betis scoring a goal in a 5-1 win.
Raphinha’s total this season is 20 goals and the forward has also managed 11 assists. According to SPORT, Raphinha’s brilliant recovery can be attributed to one man: Hansi Flick.
Raphinha was not Xavi’s favorite
The report adds that Raphinha was never liked by former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez.
The statistics say it clearly: of 37 games, Raphinha was a full starter in only six, which represents just 16.22% of the games.
Furthermore, of his 25 starts, he was substituted on 16 occasions, which represents 65% of his appearances.
This pattern of frequent substitutions was a clear indication of a lack of confidence on Xavi’s part, and was something that visibly frustrated Raphinha, who felt undermined by these decisions.
Flick’s confidence changed everything
With the arrival of new coach Hansi Flick, Raphinha’s position at Barcelona has undergone a significant transformation.
Flick, recognizing Raphinha’s potential, had an open conversation with him. In the meeting, Flick assured Raphinha that he would trust his abilities, but in return, the coach demanded versatility.
Unlike Xavi, Flick envisioned Raphinha not as a traditional right winger but as a playmaker behind the front three.
This change of role has been fundamental. This season, Raphinha has played a full 18 games out of 28, a dramatic increase from the previous year.
By the end of September, he had played every minute in the first eight official matches of the season, and only one substitution was noted in a league match.
Fast forward to January and Raphinha is one of the most productive attackers in Europe’s top five leagues this season with a direct involvement in 31 goals (20G, 11A) in just 28 competitive appearances.
