A unique change
Does Flick make him from 60 million flop to a world footballer?
04/22/2025 – 4:46 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
A year ago, his commitment was still a misunderstanding that he planned his farewell from Barcelona. Now Raphinha plays the season of his life. Thanks to Hansi Flick.
It was not a love at first glance. When Raphinha came to FC Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022, players and club had to get used to each other. The Brazilian could not justify the high transfer of 58 million euros. Not in his first season and not in his second.
Raphinha mostly played properly, was part of the regular staff, but the wing player had not made it to an indispensable size.
So last summer he was about to turn back to the club after two years. He didn’t feel comfortable and the fans made it clear that he was not the first choice for them either. There was a photo montage on social media that showed Bilbaos European champion Nico Williams in the Barça jersey-with Raphinha’s number.
An action that hit the Brazilian, as he later explained: “I saw how people posted my jersey with number 11 with the name of Nico Williams on social media. That was very disrespectful.”
That is why he had already made a decision. “I wanted to leave the club before the start of the season,” the 28-year-old recently revealed. “But the coach changed me.”
The trainer is known to be Hansi Flick. Since the former national coach took over at the Catalans in the summer of 2024, everything has been different. Especially for Raphinha. The 33-time Brazilian international plays the season of his life. Which is mainly due to the special relationship with his new trainer. Unlike his change in 2022, love was at first glance this time.
“He changed my entire career. I have my best time since I started football, and I owe it to him,” enthuses Raphinha about Flick. “A Catalan Bromance” recently headed the “Spiegel” about the relationship between the two.
Flick convinced Raphinha by making it clear to him that he counts fully on him. He made him one of the vice captains in his team. In the absence of Marc-André Ter Stegen and Ronald Araújo, Raphinha was wearing the bandage several times this season.
Flick says about his favorite student: “I love him like the other players too, but he is a leader, he always has the positive thinking that he passes on to his teammates.”
The left foot pays the trust with one top performance after the other. His scorer values have exploded. In 48 competitive games in the current season, he was involved in 53 goals, of which he scored a whopping 30 himself. 53 goal participations are eight more than he reached together in his first two seasons.
Everything seems to be possible this season: Barça is on the master course in the league, in the Champions League you stand in the semi -finals against Inter Milan and in the Spanish trophy, the chance for the first title of the year is waiting in the final against Archrival Real Madrid.
The Raphinha, which has already been written off before the season, has an immense share that all of these titles are tangible. This Tuesday evening he wants to shine again against RCD Mallorca (from 9:30 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online).
If it actually becomes the triple, it is even another title within reach. That of the world footballer. An idea that would have been unthinkable a few months ago. No question about who would devote this award to Raphinha.