Former Leeds winger Raphinha says he is developing the mental bravery that will make him a success at the Camp Nou, where he faces Manchester United on Thursday night.
‘On a physical level I have always been fine and on a mental level I’m better now,’ said the 26-year-old winger. ‘It’s normal to have doubts when you arrive at a new club. I can see myself getting better all the time and I want to keep improving.’
Barça coach Xavi has asked both publicly and privately for more ‘daring’ from the player who arrived last summer when Barcelona agreed a deal with Leeds and Raphinha’s agent the former Barça player Deco.
For €58m (£56m) the club’s supporters expected more than they have seen to date with a return of four goals below the expected level at the midway point of the season.
The Brazil international scored 11 last season for Leeds and in a team still trying to fill the Lionel Messi void it was hoped he would support the tallies being clocked up by Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele.
The French winger has scored eight and after a spell earlier in the season when Xavi seemed determined to play both players either side of Lewandowski, he reverted to just playing Dembele and benching Raphinha.
But an injury to Dembele put the focus on Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati to step up and replace him and it has been the former Leeds man who has responded best.
‘It’s normal to need time to adapt to new team-mates,’ he said on Wednesday at the club’s training ground. ‘It’s just a question of time.
‘I am in my first season at the club and it’s normal to need a period of adaptation, all new players go through this.
‘I am very happy here and I only have gratitude to my team-mates and to my coach.’
Barcelona look set to recall loaned out Morocco winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, ‘Abde’ at the end of the season. The 21-year-old has been excellent for Osasuna and his return would allow Barcelona to sell one of their wingers.
It is unlikely to be Xavi’s favourite Dembele so the cashing-in options will focus on Fati, Torres and Raphinha.
The Brazilian is determined to make sure the club opt to keep him at the Camp Nou. ‘I know I have to try to do it more,’ he told reporters on Thursday when asked why he has not scored more goals from shots from distance cutting in from the right.
‘It’s more difficult when the space is so limited. I am going to keep trying. I like scoring with long shots.’
‘Daring’ is the by-word for success at Barcelona – more so than ever since the departure of Lionel Messi. The Argentinian is no longer better placed on the pitch to receive a pass. The initiative has to be taken by others. Raphinha is convinced he can take the step forward.