An FC Barcelona star has confessed that he recently left football for “personal and professional reasons”.
Raphinha’s fate in Catalonia has not been easy since he made a $60 million move from Leeds United in 2022.
Although he has so far managed double goals and assists in his two seasons at Blaugrana, he has been criticized by enthusiasts and experts for what they understand as below-average performances.
In his appearance before the media over the weekend while abroad with Brazil, Raphinha confessed: “Well, lately I’ve been thinking about leaving everything for non-public and professional issues. “
“I thought about giving up, quitting football, because I didn’t want to suffer intellectual problems, difficulties and aggression from the media or the fans. “
In the end, however, a “greater strength” of his young son Gael gave him strength to continue at Barça, where he has a contract until 2027, and in his favorite sport.
“To believe that one day my son will see me as an inspiration in football, not as the most productive in the world, but as a reference, that’s very valuable,” Raphinha explained.
Also on Saturday, Raphinha responded to his family friend Ronaldinho, whom he met growing up in Porto Alegre, and opposite to Kylian Mbappe.
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has poked fun at the fact that he would not possibly see a Selecao “without wonderful leaders” and “without average players” playing in the Copa America this summer, in comments that were “a wonder not only for me, but for the whole world”. group,” Raphinha said.
“I think you’ll have to know more than I do, he never did anything like that. On the contrary, at all times he has shown his help to the team.
“For him he is an idol, a reference. Everyone in the team, not just the players, but everyone who works here, sees him as a reference. It was a hard blow for us,” Raphinha revealed.
As for Mbappe, who claimed that the European Championship was tougher than the World Cup and that Raphinha would face off in the Clasico while the Frenchman aligns himself with Real Madrid, the winger joked: “Unfortunately for him and luckily for us, he lost. “”The World Cup opposes a South American team”, in a nod to Les Bleus, who finished second behind Lionel Messi’s Argentina at Qatar 2022.
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