Barcelona are now playing their best football of the season, and their star winger is starting to play the best football of his Blaugrana career.
Raphinha was perhaps Xavi’s biggest investment. The Brazilian was one the best players in the Premier League for Leeds United under free-flowing and attack-minded managers like Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
In many ways, it’s no surprise that Raphinha thrived in that environment, and that now his form is improving as Barcelona begin to lighten up and play with less fear and pragmatism.
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It could also be the case that after a season of injuries that allowed 16-year-old Lamine Yamal supplant him on the right wing, that Raphinha is more motivated than ever.