Barcelona defeated fierce rival Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday night with Brazilian forward Raphinha scoring twice.
Raphinha has been in a great form since the arrival of Hansi Flick in 2024 and has insisted that the German tactician played a part in him staying at Camp Nou. According to Raphinha, he was “one foot out of the club” before Flick convinced him to stay.
Crediting the German tactician almost entirely for his transformation into one of the world’s best players, Raphinha said in the wake of a second successive Super Cup title: “[Flick] was the person that changed everything for me here.”
“I had one foot out of the club when he was appointed. The importance of him speaking with me, telling me I would be important … that’s what you need, someone who values your work.
“He gave me what I needed in that moment, which allowed me to focus on working hard and giving my best for the team.”
Raphinha celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s second goal during the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
In the summer of 2024, Raphinha was heavily linked with a move out of Barcelona with the Catalonia giant eager to sign Spain’s Euro 2024-winning left winger Nico Williams.
However, the former Leeds United forward who arrived under Xavi Hernández in 2022 turned things around and has grown to become one of the best players in the world.
Speaking after the victory over Madrid, Flick was in awe of Raphinha’s qualities which seep between the staggering tallies of goals and assists.
“His mentality is unbelievable,” the Barcelona boss beamed after winning a fifth Clásico in six attempts. “He has a dynamic which affects the whole team. You can see he missed the first chance he had in the game, but for the second one, he was there, he shoots the first goal and gives the team more confidence.
“This is what he brings. Rapha on the pitch is a lot of intensity, and we need this.”
