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Barcelona’s Brazilian ahead Raphinha has emerged as a very reworked participant this season, displaying a stage of efficiency and consistency that has already surpassed his whole scoring tally from final season.
In simply 15 matches, Raphinha has scored 11 targets and offered 9 assists, eclipsing final season’s tally of 10 targets, which took him 37 appearances to realize.
This exceptional enchancment has positioned him as one in all Barcelona’s most dependable and impactful gamers beneath the steerage of latest supervisor Hansi Flick.
Returned the favour
Initially deployed as an attacking midfielder earlier within the season, Raphinha tailored rapidly to Flick’s ways, thriving in a versatile function the place he usually shifts positions.
Whether or not enjoying centrally or from the wing, he has proven the power to ship persistently, turning into an important attacking pressure for Barcelona.
This versatile strategy has allowed him to not solely rack up targets but additionally improve his total contribution to the group’s gameplay, including assists and playmaking to his talent set.
Raphinha was on the scoresheet towards Espanyol. (Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures)
For a participant as soon as rumoured to be on his method out in the summertime switch window, Raphinha’s turnaround has been distinctive.
Efficiency in numbers
He at present boasts a formidable common of 1 objective each 142 minutes in a league match, a considerable enchancment over final season’s struggles. To place his kind into perspective, he managed solely six league targets in 28 matches final season.
This season, nonetheless, he has already netted seven targets in simply 12 league video games, with an extra 4 in three Champions League appearances, together with a memorable hat-trick in a dominant 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich.
Raphinha’s rise has additionally include elevated management tasks, as he’s now one in all Barcelona’s captains. This function has solely strengthened his dedication to the group, reworking him into an indispensable determine.
Not seen as a possible switch candidate, Raphinha has change into unassailable inside the squad, his presence and performances proving important to Barcelona’s success.
