Latest news with #Raphinha
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Barcelona stars' Ballon d'Or candidacies could hinge on the Champions League final
An interesting insight into the ongoing race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or has on Saturday been forthcoming online. This comes amid the suggestion that tonight's Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan could play a decisive role in who ultimately goes on to lift the prize. Advertisement As things stand, the frontrunners for the award are Barcelona pair Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, alongside PSG wide-man Ousmane Dembélé. The latter of this trio is of course set to play his part in Saturday's European showpiece, desperate to bring a first-ever Champions League trophy back to Paris. And in the case of Dembélé managing as much, whilst performing to a high level, the Frenchman could position himself at the front of the queue to be named world football's best player. That's according to none other than the award's organisers, L'Équipe, who, as cited by Mundo Deportivo, have on Saturday reported: Advertisement 'Against Inter, Ousmane Dembélé is already playing for the Ballon d'Or. If Paris Saint-Germain win and he puts in a great individual performance, Frenchman Dembélé would become one of the favorites for the Ballon d'Or, for which Barcelona's Lamine Yamal seems to be one of his main rivals.' Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
a day 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.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
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 in all competitions. 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. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
a day 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
a day 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.
