Raphinha has opened up on his relationship with Hansi Flick and what he told the Barcelona manager when the pair shared an emotional moment after the win over Alaves in November.
The Brazilian was spotted
consoling Flick, who looked close to tears on the touchline, and Raphinha says he did his best to look at the positives when the pair spoke at the end of the game.
“About that scene… I think he was upset with his assistant, who was sent off. There were two red cards on our bench. He was upset,” he told Sofascore.
“Later he said he was also unhappy with the team’s performance. I tried to reassure him, saying we would come back, that we were reconnecting again, and that the most important thing in that moment was the team’s victory — which we achieved.
“And I think we are reconnecting once again.”
Raphinha and Flick also enjoyed an emotional moment after Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup in January and the forward says the two have built a strong relationship at Camp Nou.
“Like I told you at the beginning, it’s natural. It’s not forced. It’s a relationship that developed over time — a mutual affection on both sides.
It’s a trust we’ve been building, a freedom we created. He feels free to talk to me about anything, and he also makes me feel free to talk to him about anything.
“That trust is the most important thing for us to work in the best way possible.”
Raphinha is once again playing a leading role for Barcelona this season. He’s missed time through injury but still has 13 goals and five assists in 21 games in all competitions.
