"Xavi didn't trust me" - Raphinha recalls tough Barca period

The Brazilian forward has been one of the standout players this season. Having scored 31 goals and provided 25 assists so far for Hansi Flick's Barcelona, Raphinha has risen as one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

But it was not always sunny for the 29-year-old winger. Raphinha left Leeds United to join Barca in 2022, at the time led by former midfielder Xavi Hernandez. But what he thought was a dream turned out to be a tough transfer for him.

Raphinha completed a full 90 minutes on just eight occasions during two seasons under the Barcelona legend. Despite winning the Liga title in 2023, he revealed that he considered a move to Saudi Arabia because Xavi 'did not trust him'.

"I felt like the coach and his staff did not trust me," Raphinha told Isabela Pagliari. "I only played 90 minutes when there was no other player. I gave everything I could give and had an impact on games, but they always picked other players without even thinking about me."

"Sometimes, I was doing everything for 60 minutes, and they would take me off. There's a famous video in which I explode when I reach the bench and punch it. I think it was the game against Manchester United," he continued, referring to a Europa League match in 2023.

"I had done really well. I had scored and set up a goal. I think it was 2-2 and they took me off. I had just created a really good chance. I felt good and was playing well. And I was the first player taken off. I could not believe it."

H concluded as he said: "I tried to fix the situation. I had several conversations with Xavi, but I saw that it was making no difference. He had his way of thinking." Despite the struggles, Raphinha managed to overcome the barriers to become a crucial player for Barcelona.