Raphinha Opens Up About Staying at Barcelona After Considering Exit
Barcelona winger Raphinha has revealed that he seriously contemplated leaving the club in 2024, admitting that the idea of moving on had been on his mind. Speaking candidly about his thought process, the Brazilian acknowledged that he felt the timing might have been right to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
“I did think about leaving,” Raphinha admitted, reflecting on the uncertain period. “It felt like it could be the right moment to go.”
However, a conversation with Barcelona’s new head coach, Hansi Flick, became a turning point. According to Raphinha, the two initially spoke over the phone, and later had more in-depth discussions at the start of preseason. Those conversations proved crucial in helping the player feel valued and understood.
“After speaking with the coach—first over the phone and then in person when preseason began—he was able to convince me to stay,” he explained.
Flick’s vision for the team and the role he sees for Raphinha appear to have reignited the player’s motivation to remain at the Camp Nou. His words suggest that while doubts lingered during the summer, the new manager’s confidence in him played a vital role in his decision to commit to another season with the Catalan giants.
Raphinha’s decision to stay will likely come as a relief to many Barcelona fans, especially as the club continues to rebuild under Flick’s leadership. With high expectations for the upcoming season, Raphinha seems ready to put speculation behind him and focus fully on helping the team succeed.
