'They do what they want with us' - Raphinha opens up about tough Barcelona treatment

Following the unceremonious departure of Xavi as Barcelona's head coach, a tumultuous summer awaited the club and Raphinha was among the players the Catalans were looking to offload ahead of the 2024-25 campaign in an attempt to raise funds.

Raphinha was bought from Leeds United in 2022, but had two largely unsuccessful seasons. The Brazilian was up for sale, until new manager Hansi Flick's arrival changed everything. With 10 goals and seven assists in 14 games this season, Raphinha has relished the responsibility under Flick and has become a revelation.

“When you read things, and they tell you the bad things, it’s impossible not to go through it in your head. I won’t be where they don’t want me. It has been clear to me since I was playing in the street. I want to be where they want me. This summer there were many clubs that loved me, and I received messages of affection from other clubs and from Barca fans. It was difficult especially after the Copa America," he explained to Alberto Hernandez on his YouTube channel LoSimpleNoVale (as quoted by Football Espana).

“I remember on vacation, resting, they announced that they were going to sell me and you feel like a commodity. They do what they want with us. We have feelings. We have children. Many times we hear one thing and it affects us, we are not cold-blooded. I am hot-headed, sometimes I do things I shouldn’t, but I came that way, that’s who I am, although I’ve matured more, but they won’t do what they want with my head, there’s a man behind it.

“I thought about leaving, because I am sure of my potential, and if they don’t want me I’ll leave. My wife has faith in me, my son still doesn’t understand but he will. Important people have faith in me. One day my wife and I talked at home about all the options and we talked about everything I could do here, there was a lot to do at Barca, and I had more years on my contract. We had this in mind. We knew what we could do. I wanted to show people that I didn’t have faith in me.”

Flick has entrusted Raphinha with the armband in the absence of first captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who suffered a double rupture to his knee and has been effectively ruled out for the rest of the season.

Raphinha will once again be leading the troops in the much-anticipated Catalan derby against Espanyol on Sunday, November 3, at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.