In a moment that sparked jubilation across West Yorkshire, Leeds United secured their return to the Premier League after a two-year hiatus, clinching promotion from the Championship with a scintillating 6-0 victory over Stoke City. The triumph, coupled with Burnley’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United, confirmed Leeds’ place in the top flight for the 2025/26 season. Amid the celebrations, one voice from afar resonated deeply with the Elland Road faithful: former star Raphinha, now thriving at Barcelona, sent a poignant three-word message that encapsulated his enduring bond with the club.
Raphinha, who left Leeds for Barcelona in a £55 million deal in 2022, has never shied away from expressing his gratitude to the club that propelled him to global stardom. His two-year stint at Elland Road was nothing short of electric, with 17 goals and 12 assists in 65 Premier League appearances, including a crucial 11-goal haul in the 2021/22 season that helped Leeds avoid relegation. His flair, work rate, and connection with the fans made him a modern-day legend, and his latest gesture only cemented that status.
As Leeds’ official Instagram account erupted with the declaration “WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!”, Raphinha joined a chorus of former players in the comments, writing, “Marching on together” alongside heart-hands and flame emojis. The phrase, a nod to Leeds’ iconic anthem, struck a chord with supporters, evoking memories of Raphinha’s time under Marcelo Bielsa, when his dazzling wing play lit up the Premier League. The simplicity of his message belied its emotional weight, reflecting a bond that transcends distance and time.
Leeds’ promotion under Daniel Farke was no small feat. After a heartbreaking play-off final loss to Southampton in 2024, the club faced the challenge of rebuilding without key players. Farke, a Championship promotion specialist, instilled resilience and flair in a squad led by the likes of Joel Piroe, who scored four goals in the decisive Stoke rout, and Manor Solomon, whose wing play drew comparisons to Raphinha’s dynamism. The team’s 94-point haul, level with Burnley, set up a thrilling title race with two games remaining, but promotion was the ultimate prize.
Raphinha’s message was not his first show of loyalty this season. In February, he congratulated Pascal Struijk on Instagram after Leeds’ dramatic 3-1 comeback against Sheffield United, calling him “Capiii” with affectionate emojis. Such gestures highlight why Leeds fans still chant his name. Despite his success at Barcelona, where he’s become a key player, Raphinha has repeatedly called Leeds his “home away from home,” crediting the club for fulfilling his dream of playing in the Premier League.
Raphinha could be on the brink of winning the next Ballon d’Or to Leeds United fans’ joy.
It’s rare you see a player leave Elland Road and go onto better things, but Raphinha is one of a kind with his name being in the running for the prestigious award.
Kalvin Phillips is someone who didn’t kick on after departing the Whites, as Phillips could rejoin Leeds this summer.
Someone who has no chance of coming back to Leeds anytime soon is Raphinha, who is arguably the best player in the world.
Thierry Henry thinks Raphinha wins the Ballon d’Or, and it could be down to this one thing, which took place at Leeds.
The Brazilian has established himself as a top player, but he would never have reached this status without Leeds.
It seems like he will always keep his routes with the Whites with him as Raphinha congratulated Leeds on promotion.
With the Ballon d’Or shouts being thrown about as Cafu also thinks Raphinha can win the award, it was his time with Leeds which showed his hidden trait.
Fans at the club will know he’s a hard-working player, but behind the scenes in training he was doing something that was ‘out of the ordinary’ according to Junior Firpo.
The Leeds left-back spoke to DAZN and explained how ‘outrageous’ his work ethic was.
“He never stopped running, he never stopped sprinting,” Firpo said.
“He was putting up numbers in terms of high-intensity metres and sprints per game that were out of the ordinary.
“It was outrageous, and you never saw a single cramp in him. It was incredible.”
