Latest news with #HansiFlick
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barcelona superstar hits back at critics who questioned his level – ‘Not here as a gift from anyone'
Barcelona superstar hits back at critics who questioned his level – 'Not here as a gift from anyone' Barcelona are on a renewal spree to ensure that key figures stay bound to the club for the foreseeable future. And, Raphinha is among those to have given his commitment to the club for the long haul, signing a new contract until 2028. Advertisement The Brazilian star, after all, shone for Hansi Flick's side in the recently concluded season and ended the campaign as one of Europe's best-performing players. Raphinha is currently enjoying his vacation after the long season but will soon link up with the Brazilian national team to play under the orders of Carlo Ancelotti – the new manager of the Selecao. Raphinha's interview Speaking to Mundo Deportivo in a recent interview, Raphinha opened up on his season at Barcelona and how he was being linked with a departure from the club even just a year ago. He first began by dealing with the incessant rumours over his departure in recent transfer windows and how he has shut his haters this season. Advertisement 'Since I arrived, in every market there were rumours that I was leaving, that I was not good for this club. But I knew my ability,' he began. 'I'm not here as a gift from anyone. I'm here because of my work and what I did in other clubs and with the national team. Lack of level is not true,' he added. He then spoke out on how the criticism, to an extent, was understandable given the legacy of the club and how there is a fine margin between being a hero and a villain. 'But I'm at Barça, a big club, a demanding club, and if you don't give what people expect, it's normal to be criticized: that they say that it's better for you to leave, that you don't have the level to play with this shirt.' 'But I knew what I could give this club. I knew that if I worked and the results came, people would change their minds. And this is what has happened,' he added. Key player for Flick. (Photo by) Raphinha then went on to admit that he had interest from a lot of clubs in the Premier League and outside, insisting that it would not have been the case if he lacked quality. Advertisement 'Yes [I had offers]. This shows that it was not a lack of level. A player who has no level will not be looked for by the greats of the Premier League and other greats who were interested in me with very high offers.' On how he always wished to play only for Barcelona and how he did not have to break a sweat over his decision, the winger said: 'But I wanted to be here. Since I was little I followed Barça, I always watched them play. I remember Ronaldinho, Neymar, the history, the titles, the atmosphere, the fans.' 'I always wanted to be here and write my name in the history of the club. I had visited the city and the stadium before and it was my wish,' he added. Advertisement Finally, Raphinha joyfully spoke on the sensational season he enjoyed this time around and how it was just the beginning of great things to come following his renewal until 2028. 'Yes, it was my goal since I arrived: to be here for many years even more than I had in the old contract.' 'This was going through my head from the first moment I arrived. But I knew that to renew I had to perform and give my best version in every game and training,' the recently renewed star added.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Flick convinced Raphinha to stay at Barcelona
May 30 (Reuters) - 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.
CNA
9 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
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.
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
FC Barcelona's Raphinha In Exit Admission, Explains Real Madrid Goal
Arguably his team's greatest player in 2024/2025, Raphinha pointed out that FC Barcelona wanted to ... More sell him a year ago and also explained his recent goal celebration against Newcastle United during an interview with SPORT. Arguably his team's greatest player in 2024/2025, Raphinha pointed out that FC Barcelona wanted to sell him a year ago and also explained his recent goal celebration against Real Madrid during an interview with SPORT. Signed from Leeds United in 2022, the Brazilian had trouble adapting in his first couple of seasons but worked hard and improved vastly under Hansi Flick while becoming Barca's leader who racks up goals (34) and assists (25) for fun. To the Catalan newspaper, though, Raphinha reminded us that some Barca leaders, board members and fans wanted him out of the club just a year ago, during a period of time when he was often linked with a transfer to Newcastle United or Saudi Arabia. 'It wasn't just me who thought it; a lot of people wanted me to leave,' Raphinha said. 'A lot of fans, maybe the board wasn't happy with what I was doing, a lot of people.' 'I'm someone who thinks that if you're not welcome somewhere, it's better not to be there. There's no point in banging your head against the wall. I'm clear about things. 'If they didn't want me here, I'm leaving. I have personal goals; I want to play. Maybe before the season started, I thought I wouldn't play, but I know myself. I know how I take care of myself, how I dedicate myself to my profession, and I know that when the manager changed, I had a new opportunity to show my potential and my way of working. This made me think about staying,' Raphinha further explained. The number 11 also explained his celebration against Real Madrid, in a recent 4-3 win in El Clasico at Montjuic which effectively handed Barca the La Liga crown, where he pointed to his wrist. Previously, the former head of Real Madrid's medical services Niko Mihic made serious accusations in the media about the bandages that the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha wore on their hands. 'It could be that they are designing strategy games, playing a lot of table football and tendonitis... in the same way that it could be that they have not bribed Negreira. I don't know what's happening, but what I want to say is that any doctor knows that, if you want to have easier venous access, it's in the hands and wrists,' said the Croatian, hinting at doping. 'It was dedicated to all the nonsense that has been said about it from Madrid. There have been a lot of lies,' Raphinha explained. Off the back of his best season, Raphinha is undoubtedly a Ballon d'Or candidate. Furthermore, FC Barcelona could effectively have three candidates on the France Football podium later this year in the 28-year-old, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri.
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Bayern sign Germany defender Tah until 2029
MUNICH: Bayern Munich have signed German international defender Jonathan Tah on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, the Bundesliga champions announced on Thursday. The 29-year-old has signed a four-year deal which will keep him in Munich until 2029. 'I'm very happy to be at Bayern. I want to take on responsibility here and work hard every day so that we're successful as a team and win lots of trophies together,' Tah said in the club statement. Tah spent a decade at Leverkusen, winning an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24. He told Leverkusen he would not be extending his contract beyond 2025 and was given a big farewell at his last home game in May. Bayern were linked with signing Tah in the summer of 2024 with one year remaining on his contract, but the Bavarians refused to meet Leverkusen's asking price. Bayern needed to sign a center-back after Eric Dier departed for Ligue 1 side Monaco at the end of the season. 'In Jonathan Tah we've acquired a player with international experience and quality, who won't need much time to establish himself in our defense,' said sporting director Christoph Freund. 'He'll be a good and important addition for us with his technical qualities as well as his manner and the way he leads.' The Hamburg-born defender, who was also linked with a move to Barcelona where he would have joined former Germany coach Hansi Flick, has played 35 games for the national team since making his debut in 2016. Tah has since established himself at the heart of the Germany defense. He has started all but one of the international games for which he was available since September 2023. He is a member of Julian Nagelsmann's squad to play in the Nations League finals next month. The hosts face Portugal in the semifinals in Munich on June 4 with the winner taking on either France or Spain in the final at the Bayern home ground three days later. Bayern also tried to sign Tah's club teammate Florian Wirtz but the midfielder now appears likely to move to Liverpool after Leverkusen admitted this week that there is 'concrete interest' from the Premier League winners.
