Raphinha reveals just ONE thing he lacked to unlock his full potential under Xavi

Raphinha has been unstoppable this season; after just 14 matches, the Barcelona winger has tallied 19 goal contributions.

In a recent interview with El País, Raphinha discussed the differences in coaching styles between Hansi Flick and Xavi.

“It’s not a criticism of Xavi, but with him, I always knew I’d be subbed off in the 60th minute. I tried to give my all during those minutes, but it often didn’t pay off. Even when I succeeded, I was still taken off.”

What Raphinha truly needed was trust from his coach. Now, under Flick, he feels he is finally receiving the support necessary to excel.

Additionally, for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Jr leads the odds, with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski also among the favorites.