"I've been dreaming of moments like this since I joined the club," Raphinha said after Barcelona's stunning win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League qualifying round. Contrary to expectations, the Blaugrana thrashed their opponents 4-1. It was also the first win for the "Giants" over the "Gray Tigers" since 2015 in Europe's most prestigious tournament.
Raphinha left the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium with the captain's armband, enjoying the cheers of thousands of fans and then the MVP title. A few months ago, no one could have imagined that Raphinha would rise to such heights. The credit for that transformation belongs largely to captain Hansi Flick.
Under the German strategist, Raphinha and veteran Robert Lewandowski have been revived. Lewy has scored 15 goals in 13 matches since the beginning of the season and returned to the form he had when he dominated Bayern Munich. Pedri has gone from a fragile midfielder to a leader dominating the midfield. Even Inigo Martinez has escaped the reserve status and become the Blaugrana's main central defender.
The most successful transformation, however, has been Raphinha. In the past two transfer windows, he has always been the one who was willing to listen to an offer to leave Camp Nou. However, the Brazilian striker has now become an irreplaceable figure for Flick.
This season, Raphinha has played in the "number 10" position quite often, right behind Lewandowski. This role seems inappropriate when looking at Raphinha himself when he first moved to Barca from Leeds in 2021. This new way of playing has helped the 27-year-old star contribute to 17 goals since the beginning of the season (9 goals, 8 assists in 13 matches).
"The confidence I receive from the coach is the reason for my current good form. I understand that, to play for Barcelona, each person needs to adapt to many positions" - Raphinha shared.
Raphinha has fallen into a state of positional doubt, especially after EURO 2024 when Lamine Yamal shone brightly. Being forced to leave the right wing is both a pressure and a motivation for the Brazilian striker to explore his abilities in new positions. Raphinha's ability to apply strong pressure also helps his partners like Lewy benefit. When the opponent has focused on Raphinha, from Lewy to Yamal, they can have more free feet to find a shooting angle.
All three goals against Bayern showed the tremendous pressure Raphinha put on Manuel Neuer's goal. The dazed faces of Joshua Kimmich, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano partly demonstrated the pressure they were under when facing Raphinha.
Previously, Raphinha was often the first player to be substituted, possibly in the first half regardless of his performance on the pitch. In 8/10 La Liga matches since the start of the season, Raphinha played the full 90 minutes. Last season, he played 28 times but only 4 matches without being substituted. When given the chance to play a full game to express himself, Raphinha has become much more confident.
Another change that has helped Raphinha thrive is the upgrade in the quality of the fitness coaching staff in Barcelona's coaching staff. Previously, Raphinha employed a personal fitness coach and physiotherapist. He has now stopped working with outside experts after being so impressed with the new team, led by former Chelsea and Juventus physiotherapist Julio Tous.
The current generation of Barca players may be very young, but they still need experienced stars like Lewandowski, Martinez or Raphinha. Those at the most mature age like Raphinha will be an important bridge for the next generation to be able to mature through each match.
"It's time to forget the past and think more about the present. This is a young team, with many talents and great players. I am very happy and pleased to be able to contribute here" - Raphinha shared.
