Brazil nationwide staff supervisor Dorival Junior hailed Raphinha’s redemption arc from widespread criticism to “Ballon d’Or contender” this season.
The Barcelona star has been revelling in the perfect marketing campaign of his profession. The solitary objective in Wednesday’s Champions League knockout victory over Benfica was Raphinha’s twenty fifth of the season. Throughout all competitions, the Brazilian phenom has instantly contributed to 41 objectives in 40 appearances, virtually double his earlier seasonal excessive (21).
This exceptional uptick in output has thrust Raphinha into the dialog for the sport’s most prestigious particular person accolades. As Dorival bluntly outlined to assembled media on the announcement of his Brazil squad for March’s worldwide fixtures: “Raphinha is a Ballon d’Or contender.”
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old hasn’t at all times been so extremely revered. “Raphinha confronted heavy criticism in the course of the Copa America,” his worldwide supervisor famous, “and now he’s a Ballon d’Or candidate.”
Raphinha was a daily within the Brazil facet which crashed out to Uruguay in final yr’s Copa America quarter-finals. Throughout the identical summer season, Barcelona entertained the prospect of promoting their mercurial winger, who had attracted criticism from followers and thought of leaving himself.
In the end, incoming supervisor Hansi Flick satisfied Raphinha to remain in Catalonia, harnessing the ahead’s bodily items by shifting him into a brand new place nominally on the left flank which permits him to roam all around the closing third.
The admiration of Raphinha just isn’t restricted to Dorival Junior. Barcelona are up in opposition to Osasuna in La Liga this weekend and the Pamplona facet’s supervisor Vicente Moreno singled out one member of the opposition for reward. “Raphinha,” he insisted, “is underrated.
“I see him as top-of-the-line on the earth, if not the perfect, with extra affect in offensive and defensive play, in staff and particular person work.”
