Raphinha Reveals Hansi Flick Conversation That Changed His Barcelona Career

Raphinha has revealed that a single conversation with Hansi Flick changed the direction of his Barcelona career, admitting he had already mentally checked out of the club before the manager talked him into staying.

The Barcelona captain has since become one of Flick's most important players, even adapting to a new role up front as a number nine. But speaking to The Guardian, Raphinha says none of that would have happened without that one conversation back in the summer of 2024.

"The manager has changed my life. I'll always say that, forever and ever. He's the person who changed my mindset, both at the club and as a person," Raphinha said.

He admitted just how close he came to leaving Barcelona before Flick stepped in.

"He arrived at a time, in 2024, when I'd practically written off my time at Barcelona. My mind was already elsewhere; I wanted to leave," Raphinha said. "If I hadn't had that conversation with Flick and he hadn't convinced me in a matter of minutes that he was counting on me and trusted me, I wouldn't be here now. It was hugely important to me."

The conversation happened while Raphinha was still on holiday following the Copa America, after Flick called him directly and asked him to hold off on any decision.

"I was still on holiday after the Copa America when he rang me and said: 'Before you make a decision, come and have a chat,'" Raphinha said. "Of course, I did just that. He told me he felt I was still going to be very important to the team and that the team was going to be important in helping me develop as a player. Looking back today, it has to be said that's exactly how it turned out."

Raphinha said he didn't need a detailed explanation to be convinced, just Flick's belief in him. "He didn't give me a specific reason, nor did he need to explain everything in detail. When a manager instils confidence in you, a few words are enough. And I immediately felt that he had complete faith in me," he said.

His switch to playing as a number nine has been another key part of his development under Flick, something he describes as a gradual shift rather than a sudden change.

"It was more of a gradual process, an adaptation that has taken place over the last two years and which meant that, little by little, I moved further inwards and played in a more central position," he said. "That's how I gradually got closer to the opposition's goal. I like it, because it's working a treat."

He explained the move was first tried properly in a friendly against Basel, "because Hamza wasn't due to start and we gave it a go; then, before the match against Elche, the manager asked me if I felt comfortable there and I told him I did."

Raphinha also spoke warmly about his relationship with teenage teammate Lamine Yamal, comparing it to that of an older brother, and made clear where he stands on this year's Ballon d'Or race.

"It should go to whoever stands out individually and wins team titles. His magic and charisma are, for me, the main reasons he should win the award," he said of Yamal.

He backed that up by pointing to Yamal's numbers and trophies. "Lamine has some spectacular statistics. Not just this season: he had them last season too, and now he's got off to another extraordinary start," Raphinha said. "He won two of the three possible titles with Barça and, on top of that, the World Cup with the national team. He's the number one candidate; he should win it."

Asked about his own absence from the Ballon d'Or shortlist, along with Pedri's, Raphinha didn't want to dwell on it. "I'm not talking about that anymore. I'll just say this: if Lamine were to win, it would be a consolation for me, a source of satisfaction," he said.

Looking ahead, Raphinha said Barcelona's biggest remaining challenge is the Champions League. The painful memory of their 2025 semi final exit to Inter Milan still lingers, but he believes this year's squad is better equipped to handle those moments.

"Anyone who was on the pitch knows just how much the 2025 elimination against Inter Milan hurt. We had one foot in the final," he said. "But we all know we had a fairly young team that lacked a bit of maturity when it came to managing matches. Now we feel better prepared. We have everything it takes to win any title," he concluded.