Barcelona star striker Raphinha has expressed his frustration with former manager Xavi Hernandez, who rarely trusted the Brazilian to play the full 90 minutes of a match.
Raphinha has become the brightest light in Barcelona’s brilliant start to the 2024/25 campaign, standing out as the lungs of Hansi Flick’s high-energy outfit. This represents a dramatic transformation compared to the end of last season, when the A 27-year-old considered leaving the club after two mixed years under Xavi.
The former midfielder left in the summer while Raphinha stayed.
Without openly criticizing his former manager, Raphinha explained how difficult it was to perform when he knew every outing would invariably end on the hour. The Brazilian started and finished just eight of his 87 appearances for Barcelona Xavi.
“I’m laughing, because this has happened to me a lot,” Raphinha said The Country. “It’s not a criticism of Xavi. Subconsciously, I already knew that I should get out. I tried to do everything in 60 minutes and nothing came out. And other times, when things went out, I didn’t nothing came of it. he would take me out anyway.”
When asked if he has ever felt “left out.” BarcelonaRaphinha revealed: “Sometimes, yes. Especially in the first six months, before the World Cup. But I’ve heard it in the other windows as well. There was always one thing or another, that if it wasn’t good enough, that they had to sell me.”
Flick has already trusted Raphinha to play the full 90 minutes in all 11 games. The only time the club’s vice-captain has not started a game this season, Barcelona were beaten 4-2.
Explaining the impact of Flick and his coaching staff, Raphinha clearly pointed out: “They are different people, who have a different way of doing their job and dealing with the players. It also helps to change the mentality after not winning nothing”.
