Raphinha: Flying high with Barca and Lamine Yamal's 'mentor'

Raphinha exploded spectacularly at Barca, scoring 34 goals and 22 assists, and is also known as an advisor to Lamine Yamal.

Trouble with Xavi

On the day Barcelona announced their departure from Xavi Hernandez, he received a message from one of his most frequent critics: Raphinha .

“Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to play for Barca. Sorry if my personality is sometimes hard to control.”

Raphinha and Barca fly higher than last season. Photo: EFE

Xavi was grateful for the gesture from an ambitious player who often complained about his limited playing time: he only completed 7 out of 60 matches.

“No criticism of Xavi. In my heart, I thought I would have to leave. I tried to do everything in 60 minutes but I couldn’t do anything. Other times, when I played well, he still took me off,” Raphinha said in an interview with El Pais.

Raphinha's desire went against Xavi's will. In Raphinha's first season at Camp Nou, Barca won La Liga. He scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 50 games.

“Next season I want to score 20 goals and have 20 assists,” Rafa – as he is affectionately called in the dressing room – shared at the time.

Raphinha believes in his ability and the team: Ousmane Dembele has moved to PSG, he no longer has any competitors for his favorite right wing position.

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have a special relationship. Photo: EFE

However, Barcelona have declined both professionally and mentally. Raphinha has found no consolation with 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 games. “I could have had better numbers if I had played more,” he complained.

In that context, plus Barca's public pursuit of Nico Williams last summer, Raphinha thought about leaving the club. That was when Deco contacted Hansi Flick.

More than Yamal's mentor

Flick's first decision was to position Raphinha on the left wing. If Dembele was previously favored by Xavi on the right wing, then after EURO 2024, Lamine Yamal is the number 1 choice.

Raphinha is not in competition with Barcelona's young gem. "He likes Lamine a lot. He sees a lot of himself when he was young and wants to help him," said Rafa's relative.

The relationship between Raphinha and Yamal goes beyond the professional level. Lamine revealed: “At a time when I needed it, Rafa sent me a message. It was long and personal. It helped me a lot.”

“Rafa is the captain, the brother, an important person. The fact that he cares about me means a lot,” Yamal concluded.

After that message, the two chatted directly. “It was a very positive conversation. A conversation between two friends, two teammates with a 10-year age gap, the older one trying to help and the younger one willing to listen,” Raphinha excitedly boasted.

Raphinha takes care of Yamal in the dressing room, while Hansi Flick takes care of Rafa on the pitch.

“For me, Flick changed everything. Before the season, I was mentally prepared to leave. He was extremely important, making me change my mind and stay,” Raphinha said.

Source: FCB/X

“Flick gave me the confidence to do what I do now,” the Brazilian explained. “Like I said, he changed everything. Almost my whole career.”

Raphinha and Flick did not have any specific conversation. The German coach simply analysed the best way to get the most out of Raphinha's play, by placing him close to Lewandowski, while Alejandro Balde expanded the space on the left flank.

Raphinha realized that his game would improve under Flick's disciplined philosophy. Right from the training ground, they found common ground.

Raphinha celebrates his goal in El Clasico: Photo: FCB

“I am having the best season since I started playing football and I owe him everything,” Raphinha stressed.

Flick, on the other hand, does not praise himself. “Rafa has played like that since day one. When I arrived at Barcelona, I saw a player who always gave his all for the club. That was clear, both with and without the ball.”

Under Flick’s guidance, Yamal’s “mentor” has achieved his goal: surpassing the 20 goals and 20 assists mark. Specifically, after 54 matches this season, he scored 34 goals and had 22 assists, the same record in the Champions League .

On Sunday, Raphinha scored twice in a 4-3 win over Real Madrid. After lifting the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey, he is on course to lift the La Liga title if he beats Espanyol at Cornella (2:30 a.m. May 16).

From right wing to left wing, from the shadows to the position of one of the captains, Raphinha raised himself up. He and Yamal gave wings to Flick's Barca to play the best attacking football in Europe.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/raphinha-bay-cao-voi-barca-va-nguoi-co-van-cua-lamine-yamal-2400618.html