Sport
Raphinha Thanks Flick for Transforming His Career and Bringing Him to Barcelona
Barcelona winger Raphinha has expressed deep gratitude toward manager Hansi Flick, crediting him for changing the course of his career. Ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid, Raphinha shared how Flick’s influence made all the difference. The Brazilian revealed that, without Flick’s intervention, he might not have been at Barcelona today.
“I’ll always be thankful to Hansi Flick. He completely transformed my career,” Raphinha said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “He wanted to see me in training before deciding my future, and he included me in his plans. Without him, I might be at another club right now, not Barcelona.”
Raphinha has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 32 goals and assisting 25 in 51 appearances for the Catalan side. He has already secured the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España titles with Barcelona, and his performances have earned him a place as the joint-top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, tied with Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, both with 13 goals.
Brazilian football legend Rivaldo has even backed Raphinha to claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or, a testament to his remarkable rise.
Footballer Lamine Yamal speaks on the Ballon d’Or award and shares how he will still be happy if his teammate, Pau Cubarsí, gets the award.
“Last year, for me, Cubarsí was the best young player in the world. Either the Kopa award or the Ballon d’Or should go to him. There’s no difference between us.
“When I won it, I told him that he would be next. If he doesn’t win it for whatever reason, I will give it to him.”
Popular footballer Cristiano Ronaldo speaks on retirement and shares how he actually thought of retiring from international football after the 2026 World Cup.
“I thought about retiring from international football after the World Cup, but I spoke to the president, coach, and I am still here. I am an asset, I can help.”
He adds, “The young kids love me because they see me as an example, and that, for me, is the most important thing. I will continue to do that even when I retire after 10 years.”
Footballer Kylian Mbappé shares that he actually came close to signing with Liverpool.
“I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp, and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there,” Mbappé told The Athletic.
“I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone. But yes, my mum was always saying, ‘Liverpool — you’re going to be there, playing at Anfield, it’s going to be insane for you.’ I was like, ‘OK!’
“All the time we were talking. ‘What do you think, Mum?’ She’d say, ‘For me, you have to go to Liverpool.’ I said, ‘OK, OK, OK!’ because Jurgen Klopp was an amazing manager. I met him and had a wonderful relationship with him. I had big respect for him.”
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