Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has thrown his support behind Raphinha as a serious competition for the prestigious balloon d’Or prize this year.
The Brazilian attacker is in a stellar form this season and has a strong reason for individual recognition alongside Mohamed Salah, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.
Raphinha, 28, has been a key figure in the Barcelona campaign, with 22 goals and 11 assists in only 35 performances so far in 2024-25.
The Catalan club pushed its impressive versions to the top of La Liga, while also their ambitions of Champions League under Flick Boost.
In anticipation of the crucial Champions League round of Barcelona of 16 collision of the second legs against Benfica, Flick was asked about Raphinha’s opportunities to claim the balloon d’Or.
“Raphinha for the Ballon d’Or? He is a candidate, yes. Of course, if he is doing well this season, he could get a chance, “he said.
“He always helps us a lot, and when you see the goals he has scored, it will show you how hungry he is. You see it, it’s good to see how focused he is. I am happy with his level. “
Barcelona showed their strength in the recent 1-0 win over Benfica despite playing a large part of the game with ten men.
Royal to his shape, Raphinha delivered the crucial goal and again proves its value for the team.
Flick added: “They have a great team. Bruno Lage is doing great and you can see his philosophy on the field. The best thing is that we are 100% focused and not think of the first stage. Normally they always print high. “
“They do that very well, they have won a lot of away games. We have to concentrate on that. It’s all about positioning, good possession helps us a lot, both in attack and defense. That’s what we want to do. “
Before moving to Barcelona in a £ 55 million deal, Raphinha was heavily connected to Premier League clubs, in particular Chelsea and Arsenal. Chelsea even reached an agreement with Leeds United, but the wing player opted for a transfer to Spain instead.
Last summer speculation arose about a potential return to England, where Manchester United is said to be interested in acquiring his services.
However, he remained in Barcelona, where he continues to thrive and a strong case argues for one of the most prestigious individual awards of football.
