Barcelona supporter Carlos believes the change goes beyond tactics. “Raphinha has much better self-esteem now,” he explains.
“He arrived at a club that was in internal turmoil, without clear role models. He was given little confidence and few instructions, and the club even considered selling him. Flick took a chance on him, and now he has a much clearer understanding of his role and responsibilities on the pitch.
“He is someone who defends his team-mates, in addition to his enormous contributions on the field. He has great instincts and intelligence on the field, and he still has room to grow.”
When asked what he thinks has changed, fan Miquel Taberna says: “In a nutshell – confidence and maturity.”
“I think that now he plays less like a pure winger, and more is able to play in a more inside forward position. He makes smarter runs, presses better and has a better connection with midfielders. Maybe he has switched from “overpaid” to “we need him in all games”
Fellow supporter Diego Sanchez said: “His off-the-ball movement is pure gold for a team featuring players like Lamine Yamal or Pedri. His attitude and leadership have turned him into a true captain.
“Thanks to Hansi Flick, Raphinha has gone from being a player who could have been forgotten by Barca fans to someone who could end up in the club’s history books as one of the greatest Brazilian players.”