“I felt left out during my first six months at Barca”

Barcelona is enjoying a scintillating start to their life under Hansi Flick, with Raphinha shining brightly under the German coach this season and quickly emerging as a vital leader for the club. The Brazilian already has six goals and six assists in La Ligawhile also picking up four goals and one assists in three Champions League games so far. While things are working out for him well at the moment, Raphinha reveals that he endured a tough start to his journey as a Barca player.

“Did I ever feel left out at Barca? Yes, I did… especially during the first six monthsbefore the World Cup and also at other times,” he admitted. “People were always saying that I was bad and that I should be sold”. Raphinha said that at times the criticism would get to him, but also recognised the role of Barca sporting director, Decoin helping him get through the dark period. “He [Deco] told me exactly what my parents and wife told me. To have patience,” he told ‘El Pais’. “They were all calm, they knew what I was capable of on the pitch. But in the end, I was the one who played. So because I demand a lot from myself, when things didn’t go how I wanted, it was tough”.

The 27-year-old also talked about how he struggled to make an impact under former manager Xavias the player often felt like the Spaniard did not give enough opportunities to prove himself.  “With Xavi, I already knew that I was going to come off in the 60th minute,” said Raphinha. “I tried to do everything in those 60 minutes… but nothing worked out. And other times, when things did work, I was taken off anyway,” he added. That said, the Brazilian insists his words are not meant to criticise the former midfielder, as he stated: “It’s not a criticism to Xavi. I spoke to him about it, but at the end of the day it is the manager who decides”.

Raphinha told ‘El Pais’ that Flick and Xavi are two “different people, who have different ways of approaching their job and of treating their players,” as he then joked on the fact that the training sessions are now much harder under the ex-Bayern Munich boss.