Raphinha has opened up about his “self doubt” before to finding success with the La Liga team, admitting that he thought about quitting Barcelona “several” times.
For an initial payment of £50 million ($59 million), the Brazil international left Leeds United for Barcelona in 2022. Since since, he has been captain of the Catalan team. Though the winger has been frequently linked to leaving the Blaugrana, he is currently quite happy with Hansi Flick’s squad.
“Man, there were multiple moments, not just one [when I considered leaving Barça],” he told ESPN. I didn’t have the best of starts during my first six months here, which spanned the summer transfer window to the World Cup, so I considered leaving the team. A lot of self-doubt was present. That pressure made me consider leaving because I have a horrible tendency of harshly criticizing myself.Naturally, I had a significant change following the World Cup and was able to post impressive figures in just six months. Following my injuries from the previous season, my dismissal [against Getafe in the opening game], and the fact that I had a lot of things the club wanted to sell and that the supporters wanted me to leave at the end of the season, it also crossed your mind to leave and go somewhere where there isn’t any pressure.”
With nine goals and eight assists in just 13 games in all competitions this season—including a Champions League hat-trick against Bayern Munich in midweek—the 27-year-old has emerged as a key member of Barcelona’s squad. Given his outstanding performance for Barcelona, the connections with a transfer out might disappear.
