Go on
The Brazilian footballer, who claims to fulfill a child’s dream, was presented this Friday as a new Barcelona player
“It is a huge honor to be here. I can only thank you for being able to wear the Barça shirt. It is a dream of mine as a child and of my family. I will do my best to help the club.” This is how Raphael Días Belloli, better known as Raphinha, introduced himself on his first day as a Blaugrana footballer. The Brazilian winger signed until 2027, he was presented this Friday at the Camp Tito Vilanova in the Ciutat Esportiva culé and will be ready to join the rest of the squad on the tour of the United States that the team begins this Saturday.
It has been one of the great soap operas of the summer for Barcelona and that was noticeable in the atmosphere. Raphinha came out onto the lawn of the Ciutat Esportiva decked out in a suit, tie and a smile from ear to ear only matched by that of Joan Laporta, full of a signing that aims to be the joy of the new culé team. “It’s very exciting for us. In all the golden ages of the club there have always been Brazilians. He takes the witness of the illusion and the magic, the ‘beautiful game’ returns, “said the maximum president culé.
In those golden times, Barcelona has collected up to 45 Brazilian soccer players. Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Dani Alves or Neymar wore the Barça shirt. A detail that was not lost on Joan Laporta and not on Raphinha, who hopes to live up to expectations. «I have many idols who have passed through here and have made history. If I manage to do half of what they do, I’ll do a lot. I’m going to give my best,” said a player who arrived at the express request of Xavi Hernández.
The former Leeds player, who was accompanied at all times by his closest family circle, had a day with a tight schedule. In the morning he underwent the pertinent medical examination that Barça had prepared for him, then he signed his new contract as a culé player, jumped onto the pitch for a photo session and, finally, attended a press conference, where he once again showed his satisfaction to get to the Camp Nou. “I feel privileged to be here. I still don’t believe it, I’ll believe it after the first match. I hope to bring a lot of joy to the whole club », he affirmed.
A request from Xavi
Raphinha is already in Barcelona and one of the main ‘culprits’ is Xavi. The Tarrasa coach asked for his signing as soon as the season was over and the culé club got down to work to get one of the most sought-after footballers in the Premier League. «He is a player that Xavi wanted, he has insisted a lot and the club has done everything he could. We are grateful because the player showed the desire to come to Barça and that has been key,” said Joan Laporta. Raphinha’s desire intensified every time Xavi contacted him and made him aware of his role in the team. «He told me that he could help the team. I think we will be able to combine the desire I have to be a great player and his desire for me to be important, “said the former Leeds player.
Raphinha will be ready to join this Saturday the tour of the United States that Barcelona begins. Robert Lewandowski, of whom Laporta did not want to comment on it, will not be in it, and there will be, except for a last minute change, a Frenkie de Jong who continues with one foot inside and one outside the club. “The tour is decided by Xavi, but in principle he will travel,” said Laporta, while Mateu Alemany assured that “the ‘fair play’ system requires departures.” What seems clear is that the arrival of Raphinha will not be Barça’s last move in a very busy summer.
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