Raphinha's resurgence, Barcelona's Brazilian star takes charge

Injuries and fierce competition for places, especially against the likes of Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, have made it difficult for him to consistently showcase his best form. But this season, the Brazilian winger has been a revelation.

Starting the campaign with newfound confidence, Raphinha has stepped up as one of Barcelona's key figures. His performances have been pivotal, and his responsibility has increased with numerous injuries to his teammates, leading to him captaining the side on several occasions.

"I'm ready to lead," Raphinha remarked after a string of strong displays, "I've always wanted to be important for this team."

The numbers speak for themselves. With six goals and six assists across all competitions, Raphinha is enjoying his most productive season yet. He has only been left on the bench once, during Barcelona's solitary defeat in La Liga against Osasuna.

In La Liga, Raphinha has provided five assists in nine matches, averaging 0.56 per game, while also netting three goals in wins over Valladolid and Villarreal. His performances in the Champions League have also been impressive, with two assists in a 5-0 win over Young Boys.

This is a far cry from the struggles of last season when he finished with 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, but still showed flashes of his quality.

In the previous campaign, Raphinha had a difficult start, including a red card and two-match ban early on, followed by injuries that hindered his impact. Despite these setbacks, his potential was never in doubt.

Now, under Hansi Flick's management, Raphinha has thrived in a dynamic front three alongside Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. His consistency, work rate, and desire to make a difference have been clear to see, and it's evident that he is fully embracing his role as one of the team's most influential players.

With this form, Raphinha is set to surpass his previous personal bests, and he looks set to play a crucial part in Barcelona's ambitions this season.

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