Raphinha Thanks Flick for Turnaround at Barcelona

Brazilian star Raphinha is thankful to Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. He says the German coach helped him stay at the club when he almost left last summer.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Raphinha praised Hansi Flick for his big impact on his career. The forward said he was nearly leaving Barcelona before Flick became manager. Flick told Raphinha he wanted to see him in training before deciding his future. Flick eventually saw Raphinha as an important player. This confidence turned around Raphinha’s career at Barcelona. Now, he is one of the team’s key players.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Raphinha’s change under Flick has been amazing. The 28-year-old has scored 30 goals and given 23 assists in all competitions this season. In LaLiga, he has 15 goals and 11 assists. These numbers are more than twice his total in his first two seasons at Barcelona. His great performance has helped Barcelona lead Real Madrid by four points in LaLiga with just three matches left.

The bond between Raphinha and Flick was clear after Barcelona’s 4-3 win over Celta Vigo on April 22. Flick hugged his star player after Raphinha scored the winning penalty in the 98th minute. Barcelona is still in the Champions League, set to play against Manchester City in the semi-finals at the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Barcelona has a big finish to the season as they aim for success in both domestic and European competitions. They have a four-point lead over Real Madrid in LaLiga with three matches left against Valencia (away), Rayo Vallecano (home), and Sevilla (away). They are on track for their first league title since 2023. They also face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final, with the first leg on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.

For Raphinha, keeping up his great form is key as Barcelona looks to achieve a historic double. His partnership with young star Lamine Yamal and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski creates one of Europe’s top attacking trios, with over 70 goals in all competitions this season.