Raphinha, the 27-year-old Brazilian winger, has been the undisputed star of Barcelona’s season thus far, netting five goals and providing five assists. His recent Champions League hat-trick against Bayern Munich is a testament to his brilliant form. However, ahead of the season, Raphinha considered leaving the club due to pressure from fans, former players, and even some members of the club’s board who were keen to use his sale to fund a move for Athletic Club’s winger Nico Williams.
The pressure got to the point where Raphinha began to question his future at the club. “After the injuries I had, the sending off [against Getafe] and also at the end of the season, seeing a lot of things that the club wanted to sell me, that the fans wanted me to leave, it also ends up crossing your mind to leave, to go somewhere where there’s no pressure,” he explained.
This is not the first time Raphinha has considered leaving Barcelona. He joined the club in 2022 after a tough start at Leeds United and initially struggled to adapt. “My first six months here, the period from the summer transfer window until the World Cup, was a season in which I didn’t have the best of starts, so it crossed my mind to leave the club,” he revealed. “There was a lot of self-doubt. I have a nasty habit of criticising myself heavily, so to speak, so that pressure made me think about leaving.”
However, Raphinha’s fortunes changed after the World Cup, where he had a breakthrough. He has now transformed into a key player under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick, who was appointed in the summer. “Football has to have a little pressure,” Raphinha said. “I’ve always dreamed of playing for big clubs, playing big games for the national team, and you can’t realise those dreams without pressure, the pressure comes with it.”
Raphinha’s love of pressure is evident in his comments, and he is grateful that he didn’t let his thoughts get the better of him. “So, thank God, I didn’t let myself get carried away by those thoughts that, naturally, end up going through your head. I just focused on working hard and adapting to the new roles I’d have to play on the pitch,” he said.
With his star on the rise, Raphinha’s future at Barcelona looks brighter than ever. Despite the pressures he faced, he has emerged stronger and more focused, and his recent performances are a testament to his determination. Cassidy Hutchinson is a freelance sports journalist based in Barcelona.
