With around 7,000 languages globally, strangers without a shared language often find it challenging to communicate, as only a few words are universally recognized. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, know that “okay” and “Coca-Cola” are among the most universally understood terms, and if those don’t work, there’s a decent chance you’ll find common ground by mentioning “El Clasico.”
For years, the legendary rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid was synonymous with two of the greatest players in history: Messi and Ronaldo. As they each left, the spotlight shifted to new players. At Barcelona, it was Ansu Fati for a brief period, followed by Robert Lewandowski. At Real, it was Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. who is now joined by Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. In short, there’s no shortage of talent.
Raphinha’s Big Moment
As a teenager on the other side of the world, Raphinha watched these clashes with wide-eyed admiration. Years later, he now finds himself at the heart of this legendary rivalry, basking in its full glamour. Few would have expected the Brazilian to become one of the main stars of this colossal encounter, even as his dream season began to unfold. Owing to the fact that he fit into two of the more problematic categories for the club in recent years—high market value and a non-La Masia product—Raphinha was seemingly on the way out just this past summer, two seasons after his €58 million move from Leeds. Club president Joan Laporta’s dream was to see Nico Williams flying down the flank, so when Dani Olmo also joined the shopping list, it became clear that the Brazilian’s role would diminish.
Football, however, is inherently dynamic, and fortune smiled upon Raphinha. Nico Williams decided to stay in Bilbao, and Olmo got injured after only three games. This meant that Raphinha was given significant playing time, as competition for his position lessened. This was the beginning of his journey. Elected as one of the team captains through an internal vote, he shared in a press conference, “It’s a huge honor for me to wear the captain’s armband. If I was giving 100% before, now it’s 200%.” Raphinha admitted that the rumors of his departure hurt him. In fact, he even laughed off a post by a fan on social media showing a newly ordered shirt with Raphinha’s number and “Williams” on the back. “Yes, I saw that picture. I commented on it because I thought it was disrespectful”, he explained when asked about the incident.
The ‘New’ Raphinha?
There are two main reasons for the swift improvement in the 27-year-old’s performance, both tied to his new coach. Under Hansi Flick, Raphinha has been tasked with moving between the midfield line and the attack. There, he connects with Lewandowski or moves into spaces behind the defense on his own. Even though he tends to start games on the left, no player in the league has touched the ball in the central third of the pitch as often as he has. Flick instructs him to move toward the center, leaving the left wing open for the attacking left-back Balde, creating advantages on both fronts. The result: Raphinha has created 26 scoring opportunities from open play so far, at least 20% more than any other player in the league.
The second factor is the trust Flick places in Raphinha. In the 12 matches he’s started across all competitions this season, he was substituted only twice, both times to rest ahead of El Clasico. In all other games, he played the full 90 minutes. Last year under Xavi, in stark contrast, he started 17 times in the league, and was subbed off in 12 of them before the final whistle. “Being taken off every match at the 60th minute didn’t help him mentally. He probably felt the need to prove himself and tried to do everything too fast,” sources close to him told “The Athletic.”
Raphinha’s Struggle for Success
In the upcoming Clasico, Raphinha arrives as only the fourth player in history to score a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in a European competition. Before the match, he shared, “The confidence I get from the coach is really important in explaining my good form, but I also understood that if I want to play for this club, I need to adapt to different positions.”
Local media have tied this statement to the fact that on his preferred right wing, a new star has emerged: 16-year-old Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal. The Spaniard has already taken Raphinha’s spot on the right, which led to the latter shifting to the opposite side of the pitch to secure more playing time.
It’s hard to find many players who would go through what Raphinha has faced and still continue to try, let alone succeed. First, he had to compete with Dembele for a place in the lineup. When the Frenchman left, it seemed the right wing was destined for Raphinha. However, a teenager came along and forced him to change positions. When that didn’t work out as planned, the fans and management pushed for his departure, exploring market alternatives. But he persisted, confident that he belonged at the club. He eventually became one of the most beloved players at Barca. After yesterday’s game, Flick praised him again, saying, “I’ve never had a player like Raphinha on any team. He puts his whole heart into it.”
What’s Next?
It’s only October, yet Raphinha has already contributed to 17 goals (scoring 9 and assisting 8) in just 13 matches. In truth, his impact can’t be measured in numbers alone. To truly understand his importance, one must observe him when Flick’s men don’t have the ball. The team’s renowned pressing game takes on new intensity when Raphinha is involved, given his constant running.
In an interview with Jorge Valdano, Dani Olmo shared, “He’s relentless. Sometimes I tell him, ‘Rafa, be careful.’ But his pressure, his desire to win back the ball, makes others say, ‘I can’t just stand here while he runs like this; I have to match his energy or do even more.’” Raphinha’s pressing is contagious, contributing significantly to Barça’s speed in regaining possession and adding to the mentality Flick and Olmo have spoken of.
Tonight, Barca enters the Clasico as Europe’s hottest name, while Real Madrid is still refining its tactics to maximize its roster of stars. Though the gap may seem huge, the reality in La Liga is that just three points separate the Catalans from Madrid, and a victory for the latter could erase the difference entirely.
Thanks to his showcase performance against Bayern, Raphinha’s status is reaching new heights, and even if he doesn’t score against Real, he’ll likely look back on this week as a roaring success. Yet, a win and another goal against the eternal rival—coming on the heels of his hat-trick against the team that once symbolized trauma for his club—could elevate Raphinha to near-divine status in Barcelona, at least temporarily, closing out what could be remembered as one of the most glorious weeks in Blaugrana history.
Tal Jaschek is a content creator and writer at Barça Buzz, covering FC Barcelona and bringing the latest stories to fans worldwide. With experience at Sport5, Tal has worked across multiple aspects of football media, from video content to written articles. Proficient in four languages, Tal leverages a global perspective to connect with diverse audiences and tell the stories that matter in football.
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