Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Racing Santander 7-2, extending his La Liga goal tally to nine this season. The Brazilian was awarded man of the match but insisted afterwards that individual milestones pale against collective improvement and winning.
“It’s always important to realise that you need to improve in some way. I’m never going to tell you that I’m doing well or that I’m at my best,” Raphinha told Mundo Deportivo. “I always try to improve as much as I can. I’m sure I can give a bit more for the team than I’m currently giving.”
From wide to centre-forward: Raphinha’s positional evolution under Flick
Hansi Flick‘s tactical blueprint has positioned Raphinha increasingly through the middle, a shift that has unlocked the 27-year-old’s goalscoring instincts. His comfort in the number-nine role mirrors Barcelona’s overall attacking philosophy this season, one built on volume and relentless pressure rather than narrow, possession-based patterns.
“I’m really happy, but if the team is playing well, any player can do it,” Raphinha reflected. “This team always wants to win; we’ve got a lot to achieve.” That collective hunger, he argued, creates the foundation for his personal success. Barcelona’s approach—to seek goals whenever the opportunity arises—has generated a measurable spike in both chance creation and conversion rates.
Raphinha outlined the philosophy explicitly: “Our mindset is that whenever we can, we have to look to score more goals and create more chances, and you can see that on the pitch. We’re much better positioned to score goals, and so we’ve got everything we need to be right up there at the top.”
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Flick’s influence and the mentorship thread through Barcelona’s attack
The German manager has fundamentally reshaped Raphinha’s self-perception since arriving at the club. “He’s the manager who changed both my mindset within the club and the way I thought about myself,” the winger said, underscoring Flick’s impact beyond tactical instruction.
That mentoring extends beyond Raphinha. During Racing’s demolition, Lamine Yamal stepped up to take a penalty in the first half but missed. Rather than reclaim spot-kick duties, Raphinha deferred to the teenager’s development.
“I think Lamine needed it at that moment in the first half. He missed it, but it’s no big deal. I might miss one too; that’s normal. Whenever I can, I’ll try to help him. You are a phenomenon! You’re my Ballon d’Or,” Raphinha said. The same generosity applies to fellow attackers Karim Piatek and Anthony, whom Raphinha supports with the understanding that strikers thrive on goals. “I know better than anyone that a striker needs his goal, and we’re doing everything we can to help him score.”
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