Barcelona star names ‘the only person’ who could have stopped him leaving last summer | OneFootball

Barcelona star Raphinha has this week provided a fresh insight into the role played by Hansi Flick in convincing him to remain at the club last summer.

Wide-man Raphinha is for his part of course fresh off bringing to a close a spectacular campaign in 2024/25.

Looking rejuvenated in the all-action setup of the aforementioned Hansi Flick, the Brazilian racked up a remarkable 59 direct goal contributions in 57 appearances across all competitions.

After it at one point looked as though his Barcelona career may simply fizzle out, Raphinha, in turn, is now considered one of the first names on the team sheet in Catalunya’s capital.

And the significance of the role played by his new manager in as much has not been at all lost on the former Leeds United man himself.

Drawn on just how close he came to moving on last summer during an interview with Diario Sport this week, Raphinha admitted:

”Maybe before the start of the season I thought I wouldn’t play, but I know myself. I know how I take care of myself, how I dedicate myself to my profession and I know that when the coach changed I had a new opportunity to show my potential and my way of working. This made me think about staying. The coach had called me and told me that he was counting on me. That call was very important because it changed my way of thinking. The only person who could stop me was him and he did.”

Conor Laird – GSFN