Marcelo Bielsa was the man who was in charge when Raphinha arrived, but it is rare you see a player leave Elland Road and go on to far better things in the way that he did since joining FC Barcelona.
Thierry Henry believes Raphinha wins the Ballon d’Or for his heroics this season with the La Liga and European giants, having joined the club in the summer of 2022 from Leeds United.
Prior to that, Raphinha scored a penalty during his final game for the club. He and Jack Harrison scored the goals to ensure the club’s Premier League status away to Brentford on the final day of that season.
Raphinha repeats Brentford away antics with Barcelona
Raphinha was out of the ordinary at Leeds but the Barcelona star has credited Bielsa for his rise to true stardom on the world stage and in the Champions League.
Before then, he was an arrival in 2020 for £17 million from Rennes, which was a true masterstroke from Victor Orta and Bielsa.
The Brazilian winger quickly became one of the most exciting players to pull on a Leeds shirt in recent times, dazzling fans with his skill, creativity, and flair.
His ability to change games with a moment of brilliance set him apart, and his performances during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons were crucial in keeping Leeds competitive in the Premier League.
Whether it was cutting inside from the right, delivering inch-perfect crosses, or scoring and creating from set-pieces, Raphinha was always a threat to opposition defences.
His influence on the team was undeniable, and when he eventually departed for Barcelona in 2022, it was clear that Leeds had lost a world-class talent, with Raphinha undoubtedly one of their greatest signings, and indeed players, ever.
One of the most iconic moments came in that Brentford game, with Raphinha dragging Leeds to safety and then singing and celebrating with the Leeds fans in the away end.
Speaking of dragging, Raphinha was also seen kneeling and walking on his knees across the length of the pitch in West London, making a gesture of respect in what is a long-standing Christian tradition.
He’s since done it again after winning the league title with Barcelona, as posted by his wife Natalia on Instagram.
The caption reads: “I made this video with tearful eyes. Very grateful & unshakable faith God knows where He brought us from, and He knows where He’s placed us. He knows all the prayers we prayed together, and He answered!
“The privilege, my love, is walking with you toward the goal. Another year of keeping his promise… Thank you God for keeping us this far. See you next season. 💙❤️💙”
Raphinha’s Barcelona goal and assist stats are remarkable
Alan Shearer’s Raphinha claim during his time at Leeds is baffling, considering he was absolutely immense during his time in West Yorkshire.
Leeds fans are baffled at those Raphinha claims, though there are fair arguments to be made that he has hit totally new levels with the Catalan giants, where he is firmly in contention for a Ballon d’Or.
Raphinha gets what football means. He did at Leeds and he is again at Barcelona. The same brilliant gesture highlights that. The 28-year-old’s rise has been magnificent to watch and Leeds fans still adore him.
It’s Raphinha’s second La Liga title and you wouldn’t bet against him securing even more in the coming years, either. The World Cup next year with Brazil will also be the chance for him to shine on the biggest stage of all.
