Raphinha, the un-Brazilian beast who drives Barça: "I wanted to have that connection with Ronaldinho."

It's hard to believe that Inter Porto Alegre and Gremio would reject a player who his teammates describe as "physically gifted" and who, in addition, has 53 goal involvements this season (30 goals and 23 assists), has surpassed Leo Messi in his best Champions League season, and is on track to become the competition's top scorer. No one expected Raphinha (Porto Alegre, 1996) to be on the podium of Europe's best this season. Not even Barça , who opened the door a few months ago to give Nico Williams their number 11 shirt. The Brazilian is used to constantly fighting and gritting his teeth waiting for his moment. And it was Hansi Flick who prepared the best scenario for him.

He'd been looking for it since he was 18, when he hopped on a bus eight hours from home to play for Avaí, chasing a dream. He'd been warned there was money for the outward journey, but not for the return journey or to keep him there. Just as he did on the pitch, he also made a life for himself off it. By then, he already knew what Barça was all about. His father, Raphael , a percussionist nicknamed Maninho , played with Samba Tri at Ronaldinho 's parties and, as soon as he stood out, put him in touch with Deco . Avaí's relegation and the need to make money led him to Portugal.

First, Vitória de Guimaraes and then Sporting Clube de Portugal. That's where he met Rodrigo Moreno , the Spanish international who would later form a strike force with him at Leeds . "We played a preseason friendly against Valencia, and I remember in the locker room we talked about the impression Bruno Fernandes and Raphinha, whom I'd never heard of, made on us. I arrived at Leeds a few months before him, and when they called his name, I remembered that game," he explains to EL MUNDO from Qatar.

"He was a natural leader"

Before arriving in the Premier League, Rennes paid 21 million euros for him in a season in which he played alongside Camavinga and propelled the team to the Champions League with eight goals and seven assists. He did not go unnoticed by Víctor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani , the men who had brought Leeds back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa .

A pillar of that team was Pablo Hernández , a former Valencia player. "It was a surprise because Brazilians always have that offensive label, but he was different. It was obvious from day one, with a superb physique, committed to defense, and who never gave up," he explains. He was Leeds' standard-bearer for two seasons and in the last one "was key to avoiding relegation." So much so that he made a promise to run around the pitch on his knees if they managed to stay in the league. Rodrigo went to hug him after fulfilling his promise: "It was crazy. We were saved against Brighton and we were depending on another result that happened. He, who was a natural leader, took a weight off his shoulders and matured a lot that season," the attacker recalls.

Both explain how easy it was to play with him. "He's one of the greatest prodigies I've ever played with. He's capable of repeating high-intensity actions over and over again in a match. Given what Bielsa demanded, he adapted to the Premier League in an instant," recalls Rodrigo, who shared a lot of experience both on and off the pitch. He particularly recalls two personal conversations that led to decisions that have shaped Raphinha's career.

"When he arrived at Leeds, he had the opportunity to play for Italy . It was also a European Championship year. But he had a lot of doubts, because he wanted to play for Brazil even though he'd never been called up. I told him the Premier League would give him the exposure he needed, and that's what happened," admits the man who now considers him indispensable to the national team thanks to his performances that could lead him to the Ballon d'Or.

The second conversation already revolved around Barça's offer: "Leeds preferred him to go to Chelsea, but he wanted to repeat the history of the Brazilians at Barcelona. He wanted to have that connection with Ronaldinho, Romario , or Neymar ," he reveals.

"he is never afraid"

The adaptation wasn't easy. It took him six months of criticism for the 60 million transfer fee, for arriving under Deco—whom he left behind—and for not adapting "to a more tactical game, where there's always less space and games are closer than in the Premier League, with fewer transitions," Rodrigo describes. This led him to believe that LaLiga wasn't the place for him and that "football destroys you" easily, so he never hesitated to turn to psychologists.

But he held on, and Flick appeared with the captain's armband to propel him forward. "In the locker room, people believe in me, and that's exciting," the player admitted, gaining popularity among the younger players. He's just as likely to clean Lamine Yamal's boot after a spectacular goal as he is to invite Pau Víctor or Gerard Martí to his birthday party after thrashing Real Madrid in the Super Cup.

His leadership is generous, as reflected in the tattoo on his neck: "I am one, but I am not alone." Barça can rely on him because, as Pablo Hernández recalls, "he is never afraid."