Raphinha is now the ultimate symbol of a Barcelona side that scores goals for fun and, under the effective decision-making of Hansi Flick, continues to smash records. The Brazilian has gone from being a candidate to leave the club in the summer, amid a huge offer from Saudi Arabia, to becoming the face and first captain of an unstoppable team.
His current contract runs until 2028, but Barcelona are already working on a deserved extension. “Yes, I want to renew,” he said in an interview on RAC 1’s Tu diràs. For now, there have only been some initial conversations — “nothing official.”
“When I renewed my contract, I signed until 2028 with the idea that I would be 30 or 31 by then. I didn’t know how I would be physically, but given the way I’ve started this season, I feel I have a few more years in me, and I would be very happy to extend my contract,” he added.
Then came a heartfelt admission: “Hopefully, I can finish my career here without having to go somewhere else.”
And, as he admits, “you could say I’m in the best moment of my career.”
As for the summer transfer rumours, Raphinha has put them firmly behind him. “They come from everywhere. I’ll only leave if the manager says he doesn’t count on me. But if I’m delivering, I’ll stay.”
Saudi Arabia has long been interested in him. Raphinha recalled receiving a very attractive offer in 2024. “It would have changed many lives in my family. The numbers were very tempting.” The arrival of German coach Hansi Flick, he says, “was very important” in helping him resist those approaches.
The result is a Raphinha producing numbers that are as incredible as they were unexpected. And he isn’t stopping there.
“I expected to make a good start. The numbers can be frightening, but considering the work I had been doing, they were possible. No, I’m not surprised, although I am surprised to be playing as a centre-forward. I’m also surprised by how comfortable I feel there.”
“Playing with your back to the centre-backs is difficult because they kick you around,” he joked.
Raphinha has no concerns about playing at the top of the attack. “I can adapt to any position. You have to have the right mentality.”
Then he offered a revealing assessment: “It seems I’m a better striker than a winger, and I didn’t know it.”
With Julián Álvarez’s potential arrival still unresolved, and ahead of the match against Basel, Flick told Raphinha during a training session that he would play both as Lewandowski’s replacement at centre-forward and on the left wing.
“I had doubts because people judge you by the goals you score,” he admitted. Lewandowski has not called him, but Raphinha keeps a photo of the two of them in his locker, taken at the end of last season. It serves as motivation.
Nine goals in LaLiga and another two in the Champions League — 11 in total. He is scoring at a Messi-like pace.
“It seems crazy. You end up surpassing the best player in history and in the world.”
Raphinha has written down a personal goal tally on a piece of paper, but he refused to reveal the number. For Barcelona fans, the focus has already shifted away from Julián Álvarez.
“I don’t understand what happened. If a player is unhappy at a club, it’s difficult for things to work out.”
Despite his numbers and the trophy haul from last season, Raphinha does not believe he is a genuine Ballon d’Or contender.
“It’s unfair. Not just to me, but also to Pedri.”
But he says that does not bother him. “My personal goal is to win the Champions League and another LaLiga title. That would be spectacular.”
He is “certain” that Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d’Or. “They have to win it, no matter what.”
Raphinha may not be among the favourites for the award, but he is clearly happy at Barcelona — even more so now that he is captain.
“Flick told me during the week of the Gamper. It’s something special.”
Raphinha also praised the physical preparation introduced by Benjamin Kugel. “His arrival has been very positive. That’s why we are where we are, at an incredible physical level.”
He admits that he always “worries about getting injured” and revealed that when he suffered an injury with the Brazil national team last year, “it was from a jump, not from sprinting.”
“You have to try to be as strong as possible so that it doesn’t happen.”
Finally, Raphinha explained that his celebration with Lamine Yamal came from a video, while the Spider-Man celebration is dedicated to his son. “He has asked me for another one — Iron Man.”
There certainly won’t be any shortage of opportunities for him to deliver it.
