Leeds will now miss out on a cash windfall with Raphinha after Inter Milan dumped them out of the Champions League semi-finals at San Siro. He scored on the night but it was not enough after losing 7-6 on aggregate.
SeasonMatchesGoalsAssists2022/235010122023/243710112024/25533122Raphinha’s seasons at Barcelona
Speaking on Amazon Prime on the commentary team, Alan Shearer made a baffling Raphinha claim when speaking to Jon Champion and discussing his time with Leeds. The winger has hit new heights at one of European football’s giants but his levels at Leeds were also frightening.
Raphinha tore it up at Elland Road and was the vital component of the team that survived relegation in 2022 prior to joining Barcelona. That was his parting gift, with most Leeds fans regarding him as the best player they had seen in nigh on 20 years.
Leeds supporters react to Alan Shearer’s Raphinha claim
Leeds fans replied to Shearer’s claim angrily on Twitter/X as they couldn’t believe what they were hearing during the match yesterday evening, with one saying: “It’s so lazy it’s laughable. He was good when he was with us but will obviously look a bit better with that level of player around him. Rio was as bad last week about he shouldn’t have been allowed to leave.”
https://x.com/NeilDonohoe/status/1919847939091878393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1919847939091878393%7Ctwgr%5Eead6891c043fb06f8c912b3e4fcff1a8b03edefb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsunited.news%2Fnews%2Fleeds-united-fans-heads-on-mars-as-alan-shearer-makes-laughable-raphinha-claim%2F
Another Leeds fan added: “Majority of top teams in Europe wanted him… Shearaah is clueless. And bitter.”
https://x.com/davestillravin/status/1919833865562067349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1919833865562067349%7Ctwgr%5Eead6891c043fb06f8c912b3e4fcff1a8b03edefb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsunited.news%2Fnews%2Fleeds-united-fans-heads-on-mars-as-alan-shearer-makes-laughable-raphinha-claim%2F
A further comment said: “Yeah did make me sit up. Maybe he just remembered him as a long throw specialist???!!! God bless Jessie lol #LUFC”
https://x.com/paulie_lufc/status/1919865912661823700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1919865912661823700%7Ctwgr%5Eead6891c043fb06f8c912b3e4fcff1a8b03edefb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsunited.news%2Fnews%2Fleeds-united-fans-heads-on-mars-as-alan-shearer-makes-laughable-raphinha-claim%2F
A further reply stated: “Shearer saying he didn’t see Raphinha becoming this player at Leeds. I’m sure all #LUFC fans will agree and say that’s absolute b****cks. We knew he was world class VERY early on in his career with us.
Where Raphinha ranks in terms of the best Leeds players since the turn of the century
Very early into his move from Rennes, it was clear that they had someone ‘out of the ordinary’ very abundantly, contributing to vital goals and conjuring up moments of magic to drag Leeds over the line and away from relegation trouble.
He was absolutely outstanding for the Whites, and not many can hold a candle to his achievements at Elland Road. In recent memory, only Pablo Hernandez’s contribution was perhaps greater to the recent cause during the Marcelo Bielsa era of the club.
Obviously, the early 2000s saw Champions League nights under the lights in LS11, with the likes of Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, and Lee Bowyer tearing it up and getting fans off their seats in attack. Raphinha is up there with the very best since the turn of the century.
Unfortunately, Barcelona crashing out during their very own Champions League run now means Leeds are likely to miss out on some serious cash regarding Raphinha and any potential Ballon d’Or winnings.
