Raphinha has made an excellent start to the season. The Brazilian forward, deployed as Barcelona's "number 9," was in outstanding form before suffering an injury on international duty, which forced him to miss recent matches. He was directly involved in 17 goals (14 goals and 3 assists) in just 8 games. These impressive statistics have earned him praise from many, including former Athletic Bilbao and Juventus player Fernando Llorente.
"If I could dream, I'd imagine Raphinha playing for Barcelona and also for Juventus," Llorente said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. The interview took place before Juventus's match against Celta Vigo. Llorente praised the Brazilian, calling him "a complete forward because he can both score goals and bring energy to his teammates."
In the same interview, he also analyzed Juventus's attacking needs and compared the current situation to his time playing alongside Carlos Tevez, describing Tevez as "one of the greatest legends in Juventus's history." Llorente believes the Italian team needs players who can change a game and thinks Kolo Muani and Wirtz could strengthen Juventus's attacking output, especially after falling short in the Europa League once again.
Llorente knows well what the traditional center-forward role demands. As a striker with over 600 appearances and 185 goals, he understands how a "number 9" can impact the team in the box. However, he also emphasized the growing demands of modern football on forwards: pressing. "He's incredible," Llorente said of Raphinha, highlighting the quality he displays beyond scoring goals.
Llorente's comments underline one of Raphinha's greatest strengths. The Brazilian's impact extends beyond his attacking statistics; his contribution in defense is significant. The intensity, character, and competitive mentality he brings help elevate the entire team's performance. His importance this season has solidified his position at Barcelona. Although there were rumors of a potential departure over the summer, the Brazilian's influence in the dressing room is already evident, and Flick has recognized it: he handed Raphinha the captain's armband.
As the season progresses, whether Raphinha can maintain his early-season goal-scoring form remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Barcelona's captain will continue to attract close attention, and his health will be crucial to the club's success this season.
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veuadilmpz
1
haaabcdlp
0
He was an average player but he has improved for the past 3 seasons
vewalmprty
1
Complete Player. Not that over hyped Yamal
TommyMueller
5
It’s a pity it took the world a long time to recognise Raphinha’s abilities but nothing spoil it’s so nice we recognise and confirm he’s so good in every positions he has played.