The reason why Raphinha was appointed Barcelona captain this season – report | OneFootball

In an intriguing development reported by SPORT, it has come to light that Raphinha was appointed as the captain of Barcelona this season primarily due to his close relationship with the sporting director, Deco.

At the end of August, the players gathered to select their five captains. The first four choices reflected a clear emphasis on experience, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, and Pedri being the top picks.

Each of these players has demonstrated significant commitment and leadership on the pitch.

However, Raphinha, despite being less experienced, was named as the fifth captain, overlooking senior players like Eric Garcia, Gavi, Ferran Torres and even Robert Lewandowski.

Why was Raphinha appointed captain?

The key factor behind Raphinha’s selection appears to be his rapport with Deco. Players believed that having Raphinha as captain will help address any issues that arise throughout the season.

They felt he could facilitate better communication and discussions with Deco, given their past working relationship.

Raphinha is Barcelona’s fifth captain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Deco, who previously represented Raphinha as an agent, currently plays a crucial role in his career, although it remains unclear who is guiding Raphinha at this stage.

This decision was made collectively by the players after returning from their pre-season tour. Despite only having spent two seasons with the club, Raphinha’s selection as captain is particularly noteworthy because he was chosen above more seasoned players.

Raphinha has delivered

In the early weeks of the season, when both he and Pedri were the only fit captains, Raphinha took on the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband.

This choice might have led to questions about Raphinha’s performance over the past two seasons. Nevertheless, he has managed to turn perceptions around and has emerged as one of the most impactful players this season.

His adaptability to manager Hansi Flick’s playing style has been impressive, allowing him to showcase a more generous and effective style of play.

As a result, fans and teammates alike are beginning to recognise the best version of Raphinha, adding depth and quality to Barcelona’s game.