Flick’s brief talk turns Brazilian Raphinha into Barcelona captain

Brazilian forward Raphinha, now captain of Barcelona’, says a short conversation with new coach Hansi Flick convinced him to stay after he had already decided to quit following the Copa America with Brasil. The interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung revealed the turning point.

A decision on the brink

Raphinha admits that in 2024 he imagined leaving Catalonia, feeling his head was elsewhere and that his spell at Barcelona was ending. He had already resolved to depart before Flick arrived.

In the Süddeutsche Zeitung interview he disclosed that he had planned to exit the club when the German coach took charge. The arrival of Hansi Flick became, in his words, the decisive moment that altered his outlook.

Flick's influence reshapes role

Flick’s approach did not involve lengthy meetings or grand speeches; he simply told Raphinha he still saw him as vital for the team and that the club could help his development. The Brazilian felt the coach’s confidence instantly.

Raphinha says he needed only a few words to sense that Flick trusted him completely, prompting him to reconsider his imminent departure. The immediate effect was a renewed belief in his place within the squad.

Staying opened the path to the biggest transformation of his Barcelona career. Flick handed him the captain’s armband, elevating him to a central figure and giving him a more prominent attacking role.

He now operates closer to goal as a false‑nine, exploiting zones where his offensive traits appear more often. This positional shift has increased his involvement in scoring opportunities and led to celebrated goals for Barcelona.

Raphinha reflects that Flick changed not only his tactical duties but also his self‑perception, saying it was “like swapping my chip”. He never imagined identifying so strongly with the responsibility of leading Barcelona.