Raphinha has been a revelation for Barcelona since making the switch from Premier League side Leeds United and now captains the side under Hansi Flick.
His former fitness coach at Leeds, Alejandro Lorenzo, has now offered a bit of insight into what it’s like to work with the Brazilian and just how good a player he is.
“I remember training with him and talking about it with my family and friends. It was crazy, something I had never seen. I was very surprised. Being in the middle of rehabilitation, I remember that
we did a finishing exercise,” he told Sport.
“Out of 20 shots, he scored 19 throughout the top corner. I said: ‘What a player we have signed’. On a physical level, the agility he had, the ball handling… Everything. We were the team that did the most high-intensity meters and sprints in Europe in the style of Bielsa… and he was the one who did the most by far.”
Lorenzo also spoke about why he feels Raphinha has done so well since moving to Barcelona.
“He simply needed to shine, which is what he is doing. To have that importance too and to believe in it. What surprised me was in his first stage at Barcelona. I think he was adapting. Because I knew he was a player who was going to mark a before and after. He was going to mark an era,” he added.
“He was a footballer who made your life easier because he sets work standards that set an example for any teammate. Having a captain like that, who works so hard and who leaves so much on the pitch, both in matches and in training, helps the team a lot.
“He is clearly among the best in the world. I don’t understand why he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Although, it is also true, it does not seem to affect him too much. In fact, it makes him better every day. Maybe it motivates him and everything. He doesn’t have fourth gear, he always goes in fifth gear. He goes to everything and at Leeds he was already like that.”
Raphinha has certainly started the season in fifth gear, scoring 14 goals already, and Barca will be hoping he can maintain that kind of form when he returns to action after the international break.
