Raphinha Opens Up About Frustrations Under Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona
Barcelona’s star forward Raphinha has candidly shared his frustrations regarding his former manager, Xavi Hernandez, who seldom trusted the Brazilian to complete a full 90 minutes in matches. Despite a challenging tenure under Xavi, Raphinha has emerged as a key player in Barcelona’s impressive start to the 2024/25 season, thriving in Hansi Flick’s high-energy system.
The 27-year-old’s transformation is notable, especially considering his struggles at the end of last season, when he contemplated leaving the club after two inconsistent years under Xavi. Following Xavi’s departure in the summer, Raphinha chose to remain at Barcelona.
Reflecting on his time under Xavi, Raphinha revealed the difficulties he faced knowing that his appearances would often be cut short. Out of his 87 matches for Barcelona under Xavi, he only started and finished eight. “I laugh, because that has happened to me a lot,” Raphinha told El Pais. “It’s not a criticism of Xavi. Unconsciously, I already knew that I was going to have to come off. I tried to do everything in 60 minutes, and nothing worked out for me. And other times, when things did work out for me, he would take me off anyway.”
When asked if he ever felt “left out” at Barcelona, Raphinha admitted, “At times, yes. Above all, during the first six months, before the World Cup. But I’ve also felt it in the rest of the windows. There was always one thing or another, that if I wasn’t good enough, that I had to be sold.”
Under Flick, Raphinha has already played the full 90 minutes in 11 matches, showcasing his importance to the team. Notably, the only game he didn’t start this season resulted in a disappointing 4-2 defeat for Barcelona.
Discussing the impact of Flick and his coaching staff, Raphinha highlighted the differences in their approach: “They are different people, who have a different way of doing their job and dealing with the players. It also helps to change the mentality after not winning anything.”
As Raphinha continues to shine in the current season, his experiences under Xavi serve as a reminder of the challenges players face and the importance of trust and support from coaching staff.
