Barcelona forward Raphinha has opened up on almost leaving Barcelona for a big-money Saudi Arabia offer in the summer of 2024, before a conversation with Hansi Flick made him decide to stay at the club.
Speaking to ESPN this week the Brazilian was very honest about the struggles he faced with the public perception after his first two seasons in Catalonia, and how the temptation of making life-changing money in Saudi almost caused him to give up on his dream of playing for Barça.
“I’ve been playing football since I was 15, I’ve been through good times and bad times everywhere, so there came a point when I thought it was time to take care of myself and my family. The offer we had from Saudi Arabia really tempted me. It would have solved not just my personal life, but also the lives of my parents, my son… a lot of people.
“Obviously, we thought about leaving [Barcelona]. I thought it might be time to leave, but then we talked to [Flick], first on the phone and then at the beginning of the preseason, and he managed to convince me to stay. I’m glad he did.
“A lot of people [wanted me out]. It’s impossible to name them all. Suddenly, I wasn’t doing what they thought I should be doing, what they thought I had to do. But I always had a clear conscience about what I was able to deliver.
“I was extremely dedicated. Maybe they wanted 30 goals per season, which isn’t really my style. I’m not a striker, I’m a player who helps a lot with commitment, with a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work, that’s Raphinha. I’ll always give my best.
“So because I wasn’t the player they expected, many wanted me out, they thought I had no future at the club. I know who I am, everything I’ve done, everything I’ve been through to get here. It’s not the opinion of those who don’t know me, who don’t know half of what I’ve been through, that’s going to mess with my head.”
Raphinha’s decision to stay has certainly paid off for him and for Barça as the Brazilian was a crucial piece of their sensational domestic treble-winning season and their deep Champions League run with him as the tournament’s top scorer, and his leadership and dedication along with his end product have turned him into an undisputed fan favorite under Hansi Flick.
