From the exit ramp to captain’s armband – Raphinha turning it around at Barcelona under Flick

The Hansi Flick era is up and running. Four wins out of four in the league and the team is shaping up to be one to watch among Europe’s elite.

In a relatively short span, the new coach has got his players dancing to his tunes, having instilled a new identity and banked on the youthful determination of the youngsters from the club’s academy. All with one hand tied behind his back.

The team has also made great strides in the psychological department, having come from behind twice already this season.

The comeback wins over Valencia and Rayo Vallecano away highlighted the mental fortitude that the German has boosted since his arrival. Not to forget the emphatic 7-0 win over Real Valladolid to establish their title credentials.

Speaking of comebacks, a word about Raphinha.

After blowing hot and cold under the previous management of Xavi Hernandez, the Brazilian has become one of the first names on the teamsheet under his successor.

From being touted to leave every summer in an attempt to cash in, Raphinha is now promoted to the helm of captain of this team. It wouldn’t be outlandish either to suggest that he has been integral to the progression Barcelona have shown so far under Flick.

What exactly changed? How did Raphinha assume the responsibility of a defacto leader of this young side? This is his story.

A turbulent start

In an incredible bit of business, Barcelona were able to secure Raphinha’s signature, a hot property across Europe at the time, during Xavi’s first full season in charge of the team in 2022.

After being mighty influential during his time at Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa, great things were expected of the Brazilian at Camp Nou.

The trio forged with Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski was hoped to have a devastating effect on the opposition and take Barcelona to greater heights in Europe.

However, due to a combination of factors such as Xavi’s pragmatic approach and the coach favouring the skillset and pace of Dembele on the right wing, the Raphinha train never got going.

After being given some chances to impress here and there, almost acting as a backup or deputy to Dembele, Raphinha still managed to put up decent numbers, but rumours about his potential sale by the end of the season started to gain some ground.

Raphinha’s Resilience

Battling the tide against him, Dembele’s injury issues and eventual departure meant Xavi was forced to turn to the Raphinha to fill in for the Frenchman.

This is where the Brazilian’s intangible qualities came to the fore. Almost as if being given a second chance, Raphinha fought for his place in the team to prove he could more than compensate for Dembele.

The former Leeds United winger turned his naysayers into admirers with his hunger and drive to leave his mark on the game.

Raphinha leads the team’s pressing structure, runs himself relentlessly into the ground and creates real danger with his darting movement in the final third. Add to that his eye for a pass and creativity with his play, the Brazilian is an all-rounder in the final third.

He may not possess the flair and sheer pace of his predecessor, but Raphinha packs a punch with his tenacity. It is precisely what kept him at the club for a second season, despite serious attempts at offloading him.

Even though the campaign ended trophyless and in disappointment, Raphinha emerged as one of the few silver linings from what was a rather gloomy season.

After a string of bad results and performances under Xavi, the coach tinkered with his squad and came up with a rather unconventional approach that worked wonders for the Brazilian.

Over the course of the season, injuries and the emergence of a certain 16-year-old prodigy in Lamine Yamal meant Raphinha once again ran out of favour on the right wing.

However, as his tenacity and work rate couldn’t be compensated by anyone else in the squad, Xavi fielded Raphinha out of position, as an inverted left-winger.

To everyone’s surprise, and credit of the coach and the player, Raphinha’s game skyrocketed, as he cemented himself as a starter and consistently found himself on the scoresheet. It also brought out another aspect of his profile, adaptability.

In the amazing fairytale run from late January to March, Raphinha, in unfamiliar territory as a left-winger, proved to be Barcelona greatest threat in attack, boosting his end-product and value to the team significantly, making a strong case for his stay at the club.

However, due to Xavi’s departure and the arrival of Hansi Flick, Raphinha’s future at Barcelona was once again up in the air amid the club’s precarious financial condition.

Leading the new era

Despite all the speculations of the club being open to selling the Brazilian to help with Financial Fair Play (FFP) in their bid to sign a competent and natural left-winger in Nico Williams, Raphinha remained firm on his desire to continue at Barcelona.

The winger’s has resisted external pressure throughout his time at Barcelona. The rewards of his work ethic are reaped by the team on the pitch, an embodiment of his strong personality. Leading by example through his relentless efforts.

His profile is exactly what was needed heading into a new era under Hansi Flick.

Flick wasn’t a stranger to Raphinha’s blitz in form from last season and was very much aware of what he had to offer off-the-ball and from his relentless pressing, both critical aspects of Flick-ball.

For these reasons, Raphinha getting a third season at the club is more than deserved.

However, the 27-year-old being handed the captain’s armband means his hunger to push, run and fight harder than anyone on the pitch hasn’t gone unnoticed. It is the hint of character and personality the team really needed in a rebuild.

Now, the team has a captain setting the bar and leading the way with his efforts and commitment to the success of the team.

It is a decision backed heavily by Hansi Flick, centering Barcelona’s entire pressing structure, one of Flick’s specialities, around the running power of Raphinha.

Raphinha may not have always convinced the football purists with the lack of proficiency in dribbling and flair, but it is crystal clear, he brings so much more to the table. A clear difference maker.

Probably the reason why he couldn’t work as efficiently under Xavi, was the rather patient and controlled style of play, which somewhat goes against Raphinha’s natural game, inducing chaos with his passing and movement.

Only a few games under the new coach, the Brazilian looks the part in a Barcelona shirt more than ever.

Having already been made the focal point of a lethal counter-press, Flick also used Raphinha’s gifts and his adaptability in a completely brand new role as the team’s no.10 with his direct style of play, unleashing the new captain in his natural element.

From being considered disposable to becoming a critical cog in the Hansi Flick machine, the Brazilian has come a long way. If the performance on Sunday at home was any indication, he is only bound to go up from here.

After a few years of acclimatization and troubles, Raphinha feels at home and slots right in this side and the team is all the better for it.