There was a time when Xavi Hernandez was on the bench and Barcelona had to “watch every penny,” and even then they weren’t entirely sure what kind of Raphinha they were getting. They were even ready to part ways with him, to sell him. It wouldn’t have taken much for him to be labeled a failed investment. The Catalan club would’ve made a serious mistake, just as some fans already did. Between two seasons, while Barcelona was chasing Dani Olmo and Nico Williams, many were eager to see Raphinha gone. Few believed in him. But Hansi Flick did—and he awakened ‘the beast’. He found Raphinha’s “trigger,” and they established a telepathic connection. The Brazilian knows exactly what the German coach expects of him—they don’t even need to look at each other. Barcelona also knew what he wanted, and that’s why, as of today, a piece of paper reads: Raphinha 2028!💙 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗛𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fA8BVKa1Ti— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 22, 2025 The Spanish champions announced a major deal had been completed. What was agreed upon back in winter has finally been sealed: the contract has been revised and extended with the German (Flick) until 2027. And today, Barcelona ticked off Raphinha with a green marker. He’s no longer a hot topic, removed from the priority list, his name pushed into a drawer. Case closed. Barcelona moves on—stronger and more united. The Catalans continue to strengthen the foundations of their championship team. A Ballon d’Or candidate now has a long-term contract. At least for the next two seasons, there will be no more doubts or worries. Deco convinced Raphinha that his place is here, that at Camp Nou he’ll have everything he desires—and all he needed to do was sign. Today, the Brazilian met with club president Joan Laporta and first vice president Rafa Yuste and finalized the agreement.Flick extends at Barca, but only until 2027Both sides are satisfied. Before it arrives, Raphinha will try to boost his already impressive numbers. In the current season, he has 34 goals and 25 assists in 56 games! How many times has he left Barca fans speechless with his brilliance? Some people seriously misjudged him. It hurt him that some people wanted to “sacrifice” him, all for Barcelona to earn some extra money and buy Nico Williams. But Hansi Flick had different plans. He kept Raphinha and revived him to such an extent that he’s now among the top candidates for the Ballon d’Or. Barcelona ended up signing only Dani Olmo—not the winger from Athletic Bilbao for whom some Barca fans were “cutting their veins.” It turns out all the moves were the right ones. Raphinha is playing the football of his life, and now, it’s hard to imagine Barcelona without him.##NAJAVA_MECA_8945539##
