High-performing Barcelona forward was not favoured by Xavi; things changed under Flick | OneFootball

Raphinha has once again made Barcelona aware that his performances in the first half of the season were not a fluke.

The Brazilian has started 2025 on an emphatic note, with his most recent blitz coming against Real Betis, as he scored a goal in the 5-1 victory.

Raphinha’s total tally for the season stands at 20 goals, with the forward also racking up 11 assists. As per SPORT, Raphinha’s brilliant turnaround can be attributed to one man: Hansi Flick.

Raphinha wasn’t favoured by Xavi

The report adds that Raphinha was never quite liked by Barcelona’s former manager, Xavi Hernandez.

The statistics tell a clear story: out of 37 matches, Raphinha started fully in just six, which is a mere 16.22% of the games.

Furthermore, of his 25 starts, he was substituted off 16 times, accounting for 65% of his appearances.

This pattern of frequent substitution was a clear indication of a lack of trust from Xavi, and it was something that visibly frustrated Raphinha, who felt undermined by these decisions.

Hansi Flick has been the secret to Raphinha’s turnaround (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Flick’s trust changed everything

With the arrival of new manager Hansi Flick, Raphinha’s position at Barcelona has undergone a significant transformation.

Flick, recognizing Raphinha’s potential, had an open conversation with him. In the meeting, Flick ensured Raphinha he would trust his abilities, but in return, the coach demanded versatility.

Unlike Xavi, Flick envisioned Raphinha not as a traditional right winger but as a playmaker behind the front three.

This change in role has been pivotal. This season, Raphinha has played 18 full games out of 28, a dramatic increase from the previous year.

By late September, he had played every minute in the first eight official matches of the season, with only one substitution noted in a league game.

Fast forward to January, Raphinha is one of the most productive attackers in Europe’s top five leagues this season with a direct involvement in 31 goals (20G, 11A) in just 28 competitive appearances.