“At the end of the 2023-24 season, Raphinha got out his whiteboard and a coloured marker pen. There was plenty to reflect upon. It had been a poor campaign for Barcelona: political and financial turmoil, a sense of drift on the pitch, no trophies. Nor was there much to celebrate on an individual level. He had shown glimpses of quality, but his manager, Xavi, did not view him as a central figure. Raphinha completed 90 minutes on just six occasions all season. At that moment, though, he was thinking about the future. Not about the possibility of leaving Catalonia, although the idea would later cross his mind as speculation swirled during the summer transfer window. No, he was setting targets for himself, plotting a course into the hearts and minds of Barcelona fans. …”
NY Times/The Athletic