Barcelona travel to Inter Milan on Tuesday for a tantalizing Champions League semi-final second leg, with Raphinha’s most recent addition to the club’s spectacular European run guaranteeing a knife-edged rematch.
The Brazilian’s vicious strike hit the crossbar and sailed in off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer for an own goal in Barcelona’s third game of the season, which did not fully reflect the Brazilian’s participation in the 3-3 first leg draw.
Despite the fact that his Champions League performances are stunning and accurate, Raphinha’s pivotal role in Hansi Flick’s relentless attacking scheme.
If you factor in Raphinha’s assist for Sommer’s own goal and his 21 goal contributions, Raphinha has scored 12 goals in 13 European games, compared to Inter’s total as a team of 22 goals.
The 28-year-old’s Champions League tally surpasses Lionel Messi’s best ever 19 direct goal appearances against the Catalan giants.
With the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup already in the cards, the former Leeds winger has 31 goals and 25 assists in 52 games overall.
Evidently, Raphinha’s rise in his third year at Barcelona is in large part due to the imminent arrival of the Champions League final.
According to him, Hansi Flick is the savior of the Brazilian winger’s revival.
In April, Raphinha claimed that “he literally altered everything for me.”
Before the season even started, the coach had to make changes to my mind for me to stay with the club.
He basically changed my career, giving me all the confidence I could need to do what I do, and he changed everything.
I owe it all to him because this is my best season since I first started playing.
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“I love him,” the statement read.
Raphinha was one of the several players that Barcelona signed in July 2022 by using various financial “palancas” or financial levers, selling off future television revenues and other assets, and in doing so, they signed him.
As Barcelona won La Liga under Xavi Hernandez, Raphinha impressed with his hard work but also dissatisfied with his inconsistent work, scoring ten times.
Raphinha and Barcelona both had disappointing years, as both he and the club failed to capitalize on their success and ended up without any trophy.
Raphinha scored ten goals again in every competition, but Lamine Yamal’s emergence on the right, in his preferred position, put him in danger of losing.
His Premier League experience made it easy for suitors to find him, and the Saudi Pro League was also calling. The cash-strapped Catalans also looked favorably on a potential sale.
Raphinha was persuaded to stay by Flick and quickly adapted to playing on the left wing despite the interest of Barca and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams.
Even the German would not have imagined Raphinha would emerge as a Ballon d’Or contender during the course of his career because of how well his work-rate suits Flick’s high-pressing style.
After Barca’s late comeback against Celta Vigo in April, Flick praised the winger for his leadership and said: “Raphinha is very important. I love him, like the other players, but he is a leader. He always has that positive thinking to pass on to the rest of his teammates.”
Serhou Guirassyy’s goal almost came against Inter, but he almost did it for the crossbar, tying Borussia Dortmund with him for one more goal.
In that thrilling encounter, Raphinha again showed the kind of improvement drive that makes him so valuable in Flick’s young side.
He continued, “It is unacceptable to concede so many goals at home,” and he never resisted making up his mind.
After the teenager’s first leg fireworks, Yamal will continue to dominate the left and keep stumbling away at the San Siro, playing his perfect role as Barca tries to reach the final for the first time since 2015.
Source: Channels TV
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