Happy birthday to… Raphinha
Today marks the 27th birthday of Brazilian attacker Raphinha, currently plying his trade with Barcelona, and his recent performances have sparked a flurry of interest in his talent.
Sunday was a day to forget for Raphinha and his teammates as they succumbed to a 4-2 loss against Girona in the Catalan derby, pushing them to a seven point deficit against the reigning champions. This unexpected result took Barcelona by surprise, with Raphinha among those unable to steer the game in their favour. His attempts to equalise, after his side went behind, were thwarted by a vigilant Girot, with even a well-strategised corner kick headed by Lewandowski failing to yield a goal.
However, an incident in the second half was particularly startling. In the aftermath of a free-kick, with the Brazilian and the Pole taking positions to capitalise, Raphinha’s shockingly skewed left-foot shot preceded his teammate’s anticipated shot in a more favourable position. Lewandowski’s expressive surprise seemed to criticise the audacity of such a move by his teammate. What followed was a failed scoring attempt from Raphinha, as a finely timed assist from de Jong found him heading towards goal before being overtaken, resulting in a substitution by Xavi for Ferran Torres.
Raphinha, while undeniably talented, has revealed inconsistencies within the same match. His temperamental display in the opening match of the season against Getafe, which saw him issued a second yellow card just four minutes after his first, indicates a short fuse. He openly admits his preference to stay on the field throughout the game. In reference to his displeasure at being substituted, he said, “We were drawing and the change made me a bit angry. Sometimes it’s necessary to understand that there are other teammates who want to help the team”.
Raphinha has also expressed his views on the expectations and disappointment his home country of Brazil has towards its national team. He has urged fans to change their attitude towards Neymar, lamenting that, “Argentinian fans treat Messi like a God. Portuguese fans treat Cristiano Ronaldo like a King. Brazilian fans just hope Neymar breaks a leg. It’s sad: Neymar’s biggest mistake of his career is being born in Brazil, this country doesn’t deserve his talent and his football.”
With Italian ancestry, Raphinha has been linked with a potential call-up to the Italian national team. Moreover, he was considered for a transfer to Fiorentina during his time in Portugal, prior to his stint in France and England which ultimately led him to Spain. Given the unpredictability of football transfers, it’s unclear how his career might have unfolded had it taken a different trajectory.
For now, Raphinha’s career continues at Barcelona, providing us with plenty to discuss from a distance. His talent is undeniable, and despite the slight inconsistencies in his performances, it is no surprise that clubs with financial muscle could find him a prized target.