An FC Barcelona star confessed he recently considered quitting football for “personal and … [+]
An FC Barcelona star confessed he recently considered quitting football for “personal and professional reasons”.
Raphinha’s plight in Catalonia hasn’t always been easy since he completed a move worth north of $60 million from Leeds United in 2022.
Despite hitting double figures in goals and assists across both of his seasons in Blaugrana thus far, he has often been criticized by fans and pundits for what they perceived to be below par performances.
Appearing before the media at the weekend while on international duty with Brazil, Raphinha confessed: “Well, recently I thought about leaving everything because of personal and professional problems.”
“I thought about giving up, quitting football, because I didn’t need to go through some mental problems or difficulties and aggression from the media or fans.”
In the end, however, a “greater force” in his young son Gael gave him the strength to continue at Barca, where he has a contract until 2027, and in his chosen sport.
“To imagine that one day my son can see me as an inspiration in football, not being the best in the world, but as a reference – that is worth a lot,” Raphinha explained.
Also on Saturday, Raphinha fired back at family friend Ronaldinho, who he knew as a youngster growing up in Porto Alegre, and Kylian Mbappe.
Brazil legend Ronaldinho scoffed that he will not watch a Selecao “with no great leaders” and “average players” contest the Copa America this summer, in remarks that were “a surprise not only for me, but for the whole group”, Raphinha said.
“I think you must know more than I do, he never made such a statement [to us]. On the contrary, he always showed his support for the team.
“I consider him an idol, a reference. Everyone in the team, not just the players, but everyone who works here, sees him as a reference. It has been a hard blow for us,” Raphinha revealed.
As for Mbappe, who said that the European Championship is harder than the World Cup, and whom Raphinha will face regularly in El Clasico as the Frenchman lines up for Real Madrid, the winger quipped: “Unfortunately for him and happily for us, he lost a World Cup against a South American team,” in a nod to Les Bleus finishing runner-up to Lionel Messi’s Argentina at Qatar 2022.
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