Barcelona’s Brazilian sensation Raphinha has uttered some big words. The winger has admitted he was on the verge of leaving the club last summer, but Flick’s belief in him reignited his fire. Much can be said about this interview; as it exposes a few double standards of us culers. Let’s talk about it.
How a Manager’s Trust, Not Tactics, Saved Raphinha’s Barca Future
Since his arrival, Flick has been very fair with all of his players. The German’s approach has been ‘human-centric,’ and this makes him revolutionary. Xavi struggled to unlock Raphinha’s true potential by forcing him into rigid roles. But Flick did something radical: he listened to Raphinha.
Raphinha has claimed in his interview that he decided to check how Flick values his efforts. If the coach gave him what he deserved, he would give his 100%. He said:
“I seriously considered leaving Barcelona last summer. Then Flick asked me to come to training before making any decisions. I told my wife: If this man is fair and sees the effort I put into training, I’ll make him love me in a week, and he won’t regret it. I think it worked.”
This is truly amazing, as Flick did not save Raphinha’s Barcelona career; he proved that good coaches can extract the best out of players.
By Rejecting the Exit Door, Raphinha became a Masterclass
Raphinha received many lucrative Saudi offers. He could have easily made a bunch of money by accepting those offers and going to the Middle East. Instead, he decided to stay, give himself some more time, and bet on himself and his coach. It worked wonders, as he is now the favorite to win the Balon d’Or: what a story!
After Spain’s European success last summer, culers clamored for Nico Williams. They flooded the social media for Rafael Leao and wanted Raphinha to leave. And look at things now. Raphinha has silenced everyone with his blood and sweat. His 27 goals and 20 assists speak volumes, as he is not just Barca’s best player; he’s the world’s best.
Ballon d’Or Buzz by Barca Fans? Raphinha’s Rise Exposes Barca’s Double Standards
It’s funny. The same fans who labeled Raphinha “not Barca DNA” now argue that he is Balon d’Or worthy. The Balon d’Or buzz is good for Raphinha, but it exposes a dark side of us culers. We do not value non-La Masia stars as they deserve. These guys deserve more credit because, these other than La Masia stars, can also bleed Barca.
Raphinha’s comeback is a story that deserves a great ending. He is a player who deserves all the credit because not many were with him when he was down. Hansi Flick’s trust, belief in himself, and support from true fans have worked wonders for him this season.