🔵 Raphinha: “Ballon d’Or is not my goal”
In a candid interview, the Brazilian international addressed growing chatter around his strong performances potentially earning him a place in the Ballon d’Or conversation:
“I don’t think about the Ballon d’Or, it’s not a goal that I have set for myself. But if I win it, it will be thanks to my work for the club and my country. My goal is to win titles with the team. The individual awards come later — and if not, nothing happens.”
This grounded response underlines Raphinha’s team-first mindset, as he looks to contribute to Barcelona’s rebuild under incoming manager Hansi Flick.
🇧🇷 On Neymar & Brazil Return
Raphinha also shared insight into his close friendship with Neymar, revealing they had spoken about a possible return to Barcelona:
“There was a lot of talk about Neymar’s return to Barça. I told him: ‘Come on, you know the club loves you, the fans love you.’ But in the end, it didn’t depend on me or him.”
He added that while he envisions playing in Brazil in the future, it’s not in his immediate plans:
“I think about playing in the Brazilian league one day, but at the moment, I’m focused on Barça and nothing else.”
🔁 On Hans-Dieter Flick: “I stayed at Barcelona thanks to Hans”
Perhaps the most telling quote came when Raphinha credited Hansi Flick with his decision to remain at the club amid speculation of a summer exit:
“I stayed at Barcelona thanks to Hans.”
This suggests Flick has personally intervened to keep Raphinha at the club, viewing him as a key piece for next season’s project.
Summary:
Raphinha is committed to Barcelona, focused on winning team trophies, and isn’t chasing personal accolades. His loyalty, coupled with Flick’s backing, could see him play a major role in Barça’s 2025 resurgence.
