Flick convinced Raphinha to stay at Barcelona
Barcelona winger Raphinha said he had considered leaving the club but decided to stay after a call with coach Hansi Flick, who gave him a fresh opportunity to prove himself.
Raphinha initially struggled under previous coach Xavi Hernandez, saying the Spaniard and his staff did not show much trust in his abilities. He became a regular starter under Flick, compared to just 17 starts in LaLiga during the 2023–24 season.
The 28-year-old Brazilian was instrumental in Barcelona's LaLiga title run, contributing 34 goals and 25 assists. However, Raphinha said he had not even thought about reaching those numbers before the campaign began.
"Honestly, I didn't expect it. The personal goals I had were below these numbers... It has been the best season of my life," Raphinha told Spanish daily SPORT in a interview published on Friday.
Raphinha conceded that neither he nor those around him saw him continuing at Barcelona before Flick arrived and persuaded him to stay.
"I didn't think it was just me, a lot of people wanted me to leave here. Many fans, maybe the board was not happy with what I was doing, many people. I am a person who thinks that if you are not welcome in a place, it is better not to be in it," he said.
"There is no point in banging your head against the wall. I know the way I dedicate myself to my profession and I knew that when the coach changed I had a new opportunity to show my potential and my way of working.
"The coach had called me and told me that he was counting on me. That call was very important because it changed my way of thinking. The only person who could stop me was him and he did."
Last week, Raphinha signed a contract renewal that will keep him at the club until 30 June 2028. He is set to play in Brazil's World Cup qualifiers, facing Ecuador away on June 5 and Paraguay at home on June 10.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
19 minutes ago
- CNA
Merz to meet Trump in US for talks on Ukraine, trade, Middle East
BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jun 5) for talks at the White House, with the Ukraine and Mideast conflicts on the agenda along with rocky trade relations. The talks will mark Merz's first official visit as chancellor since taking office in early May, and be the first time the two leaders have met. The two leaders will discuss relations between the two countries, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Saturday, as well as "the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and trade policy". Trump has rattled Europe with shifts in security and trade policy since returning to the White House, including an array of tariffs on European partners. Speaking at the WDR Europaforum conference last Monday, Merz said the European Union could retaliate with measures against US technology companies or other tariffs if the transatlantic trade conflict escalates. "We shouldn't react heedlessly and hectically," Merz said. "But if we can't do anything else, we would need to use this tool." But Merz's government, which last week said it would help Kyiv develop long-range missiles, wants to make sure that Washington will not walk away from Ukraine during its war with Russia. Merz and Trump have already had several telephone conversations, with the two agreeing earlier this month to visit each other, without giving dates. With regards to the conflict in Gaza, Merz has sought to heighten the pressure on Israel over its policies, balancing Berlin's support for the Israeli government with criticism of how it is fighting in the territory. "I no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip," he told public broadcaster WDR last week, warning the Israeli government to not do that which "friends are no longer willing to accept".
CNA
27 minutes ago
- CNA
Piastri on pole as McLaren lock out front row in Spain
BARCELONA :Formula One leader Oscar Piastri seized pole position from teammate and title rival Lando Norris by a hefty margin as dominant McLaren locked out the front row in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, last year's winner, qualified third fastest in the same time as Mercedes' George Russell, who will start fourth because the reigning champion finished his lap first. Piastri had set a target time of one minute and 11.836 seconds in the top 10 shootout but Norris went 0.017 quicker thanks to an opportunistic aerodynamic tow, with McLaren still in a league of their own despite stricter front wing flex tests. Norris, winner in Monaco from pole last Sunday to close the gap at the top to three points, managed to improve further to 1:11.755 before Piastri clinched pole with a brilliant final lap of 1:11.546 - 0.209 seconds quicker around the Circuit de Catalunya. The pole was the Australian's fourth in nine races so far this season. "It wasn't the perfect lap but I think around here with the tyres going off so much through the lap it's very tough to do that," said Piastri, who said over the radio that Norris' slipstream was 'cheeky'. "I'm very happy with all the work we've put in." Norris said he had the pace but made a couple of small mistakes. "Just a couple of little mistakes. Turn One, where you don't want to make a mistake because it harms the tyres for the rest of the lap. A couple of little squiggles there. And Turn Four as well," he explained. "A good result for the team, a nice one-two and an interesting start for tomorrow," added the Briton, who started on pole last year but finished second. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, winner a record-equalling six times in Spain, qualified fifth for Ferrari and ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc for the second time this season. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest, with Leclerc seventh after doing only one flying lap because he had run out of tyres. "I think we were one of the only cars to have only four new sets of softs for the whole of qualifying. All the others around us had five new softs," said the Monegasque. "I sacrificed today, I hope it will pay off tomorrow. If it doesn't, it's my fault." Alpine's Pierre Gasly will start eighth and Isack Hadjar ninth for Racing Bulls. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said the team had not been at all concerned by the flexi-wing saga, which rivals had hoped might slow the defending constructors' champions. "It entertained to have this kind of debate but our simulations said everything was very small. We weren't concerned from this point of view," the Italian told Sky Sports television. Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso, yet to score a point this season, completed the top 10 for Aston Martin in front of his home crowd. Verstappen's team mate Yuki Tsunoda struggled again and qualified last with Alpine's Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto also on the back row after a problem pulling away from the pit lane exit at the end of the opening phase.
CNA
29 minutes ago
- CNA
Gasperini confirms Atalanta exit
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed his departure from Serie A side Atalanta with an emotional message to supporters on Saturday. Gasperini's exit did not come as a surprise, as he stated back in February that he would not renew his contract, which is set to expire in June. "It wasn't possible to express this before, only in the last few hours have I really decided to put an end to this wonderful nine-year-long story. But let's not say goodbye, I don't like that," he told Atalanta fans via the Italian newspaper l'Eco di Bergamo. The 67-year-old Gasperini has turned the Bergamo club into a regular presence among the Serie A leaders in recent seasons, and he led them to the Europa League title in 2024. "We've managed to achieve some unquestionably extraordinary results. I would have liked to do more, I didn't succeed, but we still celebrated a lot together and I'm sure you will do it again," he added. Italian media reported that Gasperini is set to take over as coach of AS Roma following Claudio Ranieri's retirement.
