Last summer, Raphinha was rumored to be on his way away from Barcelona. The former Premier League star had anything but a good transfer from Leeds in 2022. Xavi was pushed out as coach, after initially changing his mind to stay, the Brazilian gave it a second chance with Hansi Flick at the helm. Talk about the right decision! Now the winger is one of Flick’s very best attacking players with a wild 31 goals and 25 assists in 52 games. Now the Brazilian talks about his relationship with Barca legend Xavi.
“There’s an iconic video where I explode when I get to the bench and hit it,” Raphina begins in an interview with Isabela Pagliari.
READ: Giant bid awaits that could save Manchester United – but at the same time make Amorim’s project collapse like a house of cards
“I think it was the game against Manchester United where I had been very good, I had scored a goal and I had provided an assist. I think it was 2-2, and he took me out. I had just created a very clear chance. I felt comfortable and played very well. And the first one to be replaced was me. When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it. I tried to fix it. I had several conversations with him, but I saw that these made no difference. He had his own way of thinking,” says Raphinha.
“I felt that neither he nor the coaching staff trusted me,” Raphinha concludes. Which has now shown Xavi that it was “he who was right”.
Read on F7: Smart Solskjaer makes Mourinho lash out at everyone and everything
