Barcelona forward Raphinha has expressed his frustration at the lack of opportunities under Xavi Hernández, revealing that he felt a lack of confidence from the former coach.
Despite having established himself as a contender for the Ballon d’Or this season, Raphinha often played a secondary role during his time with Xavi, after his arrival at the club in 2022, despite having contributed to the LaLiga title in 2023.
He was often substituted early in matches or even relegated to the bench due to competition for a starting position on the wing, competing with players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres.
I felt that the coaching staff didn’t have confidence in me.
Raphinha
In an interview, Raphinha recounted how, despite his efforts and performance on the field, he was substituted without consideration, even after outstanding performances.
He mentioned a specific match against Manchester United in the Europa League in 2023, where he was substituted despite having scored a goal and assisted another, which generated his visible frustration.
During his two seasons under Xavi’s management, Raphinha participated in 87 matches, but in 27 of them he came on as a substitute and only completed the full 90 minutes on eight occasions.
The Brazilian international also revealed that he had held talks with Xavi, who left the club last year, but failed to change the situation.
Raphinha has proven his worth since Xavi’s departure, with outstanding performances this season that keep Barcelona in the fight for the title, and he has been considered a possible Ballon d’Or winner.
After scoring 20 goals in his first two years with the club, he has already registered 31 goals this season under the management of new coach Hansi Flick, playing in a slightly different position on the left wing.
These goals have been scored in 52 appearances, 48 of them as a starter, and he has completed the full 90 minutes on 33 occasions, before the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
He is someone who cares about all the players, both those who play and those who don’t play.
Raphinha
Raphinha praised Flick’s approach, highlighting his support for all players, including his concern for Vitor Roque’s situation.
