Raphinha Breaks His Silence and Reveals the Truth About Barcelona

At FC Barcelona, Raphinha has become one of the faces of the club’s new era under Hansi Flick. Yet behind the smiles and celebrations lies a story of struggle, doubt, and determination. The Brazilian winger, who recently extended his contract until 2028, has finally opened up about what really happened behind the scenes — and how close he came to walking away from the club.

Back on May 22, Barcelona fans were overjoyed when the club announced Raphinha’s contract extension. The deal was a major boost after a historic season where Barça completed a league and cup double and reached the Champions League semi-finals. With an astonishing 34 goals and 26 assists in 57 matches across all competitions, the Brazilian was among the favorites for the Ballon d’Or — only to be edged out by his teenage teammate Lamine Yamal and PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé.

But few knew that, just weeks before that announcement, Raphinha was seriously considering leaving. In an interview with ESPN Brazil, the former Rennes star revealed that he had been tempted by a massive offer from Saudi Arabia — one that could have completely changed his life and that of his family.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 15,” he began. “I’ve experienced highs and lows everywhere I’ve been. Then came a point where I thought it was time to take care of myself and my family. The Saudi offer really touched me — it would have solved everything for me, my parents, my son, and many close to me.”

For a moment, Raphinha seemed ready to say goodbye to Barcelona. But that was before Hansi Flick intervened. The newly appointed manager picked up the phone and had a heart-to-heart talk with him. That conversation changed everything. “Of course, I thought about leaving,” Raphinha admitted. “But we talked — first over the phone, then again at the start of preseason — and he convinced me to stay. And thank God he did.”

Since then, Raphinha’s resurgence has been remarkable. In just seven matches this season, he’s already scored three goals and provided two assists, forming a devastating partnership with Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. His performances have silenced critics and made him one of the first names on Flick’s team sheet. Yet, despite his success, the 28-year-old has not forgotten the difficult times he faced when he first joined the club.

Without naming names, Raphinha pointed fingers at certain individuals within the Barça hierarchy who, he claims, wanted him out early on. “A lot of people wanted me gone,” he said candidly. “Suddenly, I wasn’t doing what they thought I should. But I always had a clear conscience about my effort. Maybe they wanted me to score 30 goals a season, but that’s not my style — I’m not a pure striker. I’m a player who contributes with commitment, effort, and teamwork. That’s who Raphinha is.”

He went on to describe how unwanted he felt during that period: “Since I wasn’t the kind of player they expected, many thought I had no future here after my first season. You could feel it in the air. But I know who I am, what I’ve gone through, and what I’ve achieved to get here. The opinions of people who don’t really know me don’t affect me anymore.”

Raphinha’s words shed light on the unseen emotional battles many players face behind closed doors — even when things seem perfect on the pitch. For him, the pressure, criticism, and lack of support from certain club members almost led to a premature exit from the Camp Nou.

Now, with Flick’s trust and the unwavering support of his teammates, Raphinha feels stronger than ever. His combination of work rate, skill, and leadership has made him a crucial figure in Barcelona’s attack, embodying the spirit of unity and determination that defines the new-look team.

Once on the verge of leaving, Raphinha now stands as a symbol of resilience and redemption. His story is a reminder that even in the world of elite football, success isn’t just about goals and trophies — it’s also about courage, belief, and the will to fight when everyone else doubts you.