Raphinha: “Following in the footsteps of Barça’s Brazilian idols is a huge honour”

Barcelona winger Raphinha confessed that it is “an enormous honour” to follow “in the footsteps of the Brazilian idols” who passed through the club, and promised commitment and a desire to win trophies in a new era which hopefully lasts many years. “I am a happy person, someone who likes to be on good terms with everyone. I like to always have a smile on my face. A person dedicated to everything he does,” he explained today in an interview with Barça TV.

The former Leeds star is one of the great reinforcements for Xavi Hernández’s team ahead of the new season. “Fans can expect a player who is always fighting to win, who doesn’t like to lose in anything. I always want to win, I’m going to do everything to give my best, to help the team”, he added.

“When the team is playing well, it gives individuals the chance to shine, I really want to win the League, the Champions - everything. Individually, I have the dream of winning the World Cup with Brazil and I hopes to stay at Barça for many years. It was a dream to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldinho and Neymar, Dani Alves too, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, they are Brazilian idols. Following in their footsteps for me is a huge honor, there are no words to explain those feelings,” he continued.

Raphinha spoke about Ronaldinho on the day of his presentation and once again showed his admiration for the legendary Barça No.10, as well as for Neymar. “I always talk about Ronaldinho, because I remember that when Ronaldinho came to Barça, that when I really began to understand football. I always saw him play, do spectacular things, I always had him as an idol and then Neymar,” he confessed.

The Brazilian winger acknowledged going through a difficult season at Leeds with the team fighting to remain in the Premier League and confessed that coach Marcelo Bielsa had a positive influence on him. “He was very important for me, he got me out of France, he gave me confidence, and then I managed to get a place with the Brazilian national team - that was all because of the way he made me play, he got the best out of me,” Raphinha remembered. “My real dream was to play professionally in Brazil, to show Brazilian fans what I can do. I didn’t get the chance to do that but I had another opportunity, to stay in Europe. It was closer to my dreams, coming here, playing in the Champions League, playing for Brazil. Today I am realizing an even bigger dream”.