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By Luke Bissett
Ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, Raphinha seemed extremely likely to depart Barcelona. President Joan Laporta had expressed his desire to sign two of Spain’s stars from Euro 2024, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams, while Raphinha represented value as a saleable asset on the club’s balance sheet.
The Brazilian however remained in Catalonia and has quickly become one of the side’s standout performers under new manager Flick. Barca have enjoyed a scintillating start to the season, collecting 24 points from their opening nine games in LaLiga – their best start to a campaign since 2017-18 (25 points), and Raphinha has undoubtedly been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the German manager’s arrival.
The 27-year-old has begun the season in superb fashion, recording six goals and five assists across all competitions. Indeed, it’s the second most goal contributions of any LaLiga player this term, behind only teammate Robert Lewandowski (14). It took Raphinha until February of last season (24 appearances) to match his goal involvement tally of this campaign (11 in 11 games).
The attacker has cut a completely new figure under Flick, forming one of the most potent attacking tridents in European football alongside Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. Barca have scored 34 goals in all competitions across 2024-25, the most of any side in the big five European leagues. Into his third season in Catalonia, Raphinha finally appears to be making good on his reported £55million transfer fee. He has impressively instated himself as an integral element of the attack – playing more minutes than any other Barca player across all comps this term (751).
Nominally used as a left winger in Flick’s 4-2-3-1, the 27-year-old has also been deployed as a No. 10 due to Olmo’s recent absence through injury. Yet regardless of his starting position, Raphinha has been afforded somewhat of a ‘free role’ in the set-up, giving him the ability to drift into central areas. This has allowed the Brazilian to ghost into more threatening parts of the pitch, thus enabling him to provide a real impact in the final third.
The attacker’s new-found freedom has been a breath of fresh air, showcasing just how much of a difference-maker he can be. He has seen his influence grow tenfold, boasting more open-play shot-ending sequence involvements than any other player in the big five European leagues (63).
There has never been any question over Raphinha’s productivity, yet he’s now consistently demonstrating it an alarming rate.
The 27-year-old poses an immense goal-threat, which has been certainly aided by his shackle free role. 11.9% of Raphinha’s touches have been in the opposition box this term (62/520), his highest percentage in a LaLiga campaign. The forward exhibits a real decisiveness in his end product, aided by his ability to generate opportunities out of nothing. In fact, he ranks third for both shots (30) and shots on target (14) across the Spanish top-flight.
Rewarded for his frightening form with the LaLiga Player of the Month award for August, Raphinha has been a central figure in the Barca attack. An attack that is recording a staggering goal return. Flick’s side have netted 28 league strikes – the most of any side after nine LaLiga games since Barcelona themselves in 2016-17 (29 goals).
One of the outstanding benefits to the Brazilian’s central role is that it has allowed him to operate as the key playmaker in the side. He has created 39 chances across all competitions – more than any other player in the big five European leagues. Raphinha has always possessed pure quality when delivering a final pass, however his decision-making has now vastly improved – offering a much more potent profile in the forward-line.
The attacker is a constant livewire, always seeking to drag Barca up-field via his positivity on the ball – highlighted by his assist for Lewandowski’s second goal in their 3-0 win over Alavés last time out. Raphinha’s actions are always purposeful, as he displays a real impetus when leading the side’s fast-paced attacks. His 19 carries into the opposition box is the fifth-most of any player in LaLiga this season, while he is always seeking to attack space left behind.
By having the freedom to drift into central areas, Raphinha is always looking to combine with his teammates through neat interchanges. Though he does not shy away from progressing the ball via his elite ball-carrying. LaLiga defences retreating at a rapid pace as the Brazilian drives with the ball before unleashing from range or sliding runners in-behind has become an all too regular occurrence. And Barca have ensured to embrace this efficiency. Only Kylian Mbappé (77) has received more progressive passes than Raphinha in LaLiga this season (66).
One of Raphinha’s most impressive assets is his selfless work rate off the ball, something which is perfectly aligned to Flick’s counter-pressing philosophy. In fact, Barca have the lowest PPDA in LaLiga this season (8.7), displaying just how effective their press can be. And the attacker is the lead protagonist with his relentless running and energetic defending from the front.
This leadership has certainly been recognised by Barca fans and his teammates alike. The Brazilian was voted in as one of the four club captains by his fellow players in the summer, while the recent injury to regular captain Marc-André ter Stegen has led to Raphinha captaining the side in recent weeks.
From dispensable to essential, Raphinha is displaying his pure brilliance on a regular basis under Flick, and it is form which only seems to be amplifying.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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