'All the “no’s” I have received have fuelled my learning' - the philosophy, ability and dreams of Leeds United signing Raphinha

The stinging rejection of the club he loved as a boy has propelled Raphinha along a career path that now brings him to Elland Road.
DONE DEAL - Leeds United have bought Brazilian winger Raphinha from RennesDONE DEAL - Leeds United have bought Brazilian winger Raphinha from Rennes
DONE DEAL - Leeds United have bought Brazilian winger Raphinha from Rennes

Leeds United’s new winger, signed for a sum of around £17m from French side Rennes, grew up a fan of Internacional de Porto Alegre who granted him a trial at the age of nine. They refused to take him, citing his diminutive stature.

“It was really frustrating, but I had to lift my head and try my luck elsewhere,” he told L’Equipe. “I was very frustrated, because deep in my heart, that’s where I wanted to play. But all the “no’s” that I have been given over the years have fuelled my learning. It motivated me even more to get to where I am.”

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Instead, Raphinha began his footballing life with his beloved club’s bitter rivals, Grêmio.

At 15 he moved to Sao Paulo to join Audax, leaving behind his musician father and teacher mother in their modest home and before his teenage years were done, his agent – former Portugal and Barcelona midfielder Deco – had negotiated a move to Portuguese side Vitória SC.

On his right leg is a tattoo that declares his personal philosophy: ‘life is a journey, enjoy the path’ and Raphinha has taken big steps forward since his arrival in European football, with no small measure of success along the way.

Eighteen goals in 43 2017/18 appearances caught the eye of Sporting and a year later he was celebrating a pair of trophies, putting the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga on his C.V and qualifying for the Europa League with a third-place Primeira Liga finish.

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Sporting took the decision to cash in on the winger’s talent and potential, selling him to Ligue 1 side Rennes for €21 million. Deco claimed the move was entirely at the behest of the club, a financial choice, but Raphinha saw it as a chance to keep moving forward along his path.

NEW ADDITION - Raphinha has moved to Leeds United from French club Rennes. The Brazilian dreams of Champions League football and the Seleção. Pic: GettyNEW ADDITION - Raphinha has moved to Leeds United from French club Rennes. The Brazilian dreams of Champions League football and the Seleção. Pic: Getty
NEW ADDITION - Raphinha has moved to Leeds United from French club Rennes. The Brazilian dreams of Champions League football and the Seleção. Pic: Getty

With the help of a translator who accompanied him to training and spent time with him daily off the pitch, he began to learn the French language.

It took him time to make progress on the pitch, however.

“He arrived at the end of August and it took him two or so months to adapt to the French championship,” L’Equipe writer Johan Rigaud told the YEP.

“He needed to improve when it came to finishing his actions, his first goal was a penalty in November when he team-mates let him take it so he could score.”

JOURNEY - Leeds United new boy Raphinha in action for Sporting, with whom he won a pair of cups before being sold for €21m. Pic: GettyJOURNEY - Leeds United new boy Raphinha in action for Sporting, with whom he won a pair of cups before being sold for €21m. Pic: Getty
JOURNEY - Leeds United new boy Raphinha in action for Sporting, with whom he won a pair of cups before being sold for €21m. Pic: Getty
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Raphinha later said that goal gave him ‘serenity’ and allowed him to start showing Rennes more of what he could do.

He played on the right in a 4-3-3 and as a second forward in a 3-5-2 in a season that ended in Champions League qualification.

Over the 2019/20 campaign Rigaud saw him improve defensively and his numbers substantiate that view. He recovered the ball 5.3 times per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 and won a similar number of ground duels and although he scored just five goals and contributed three assists, he made at least two chances per game and his expected assists and expected goals suggested a dangerous operator.

Leeds fans who tuned into Rennes’ game against Reims on Sunday, after which he flew to England to complete his move to Leeds, saw him shine, scoring a goal and giving the visitors a difficult afternoon.

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A trick-happy left-footed winger who can hug the touchline or cut inside, Raphinha impressed Rigaud’s colleague Regis Dupont, who sat down to interview him at the start of this year and believes he will fit Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play.

“He seems very dedicated and has already had a lot of experience with different clubs at 23 years old,” said Rigaud’s colleague Regis Dupont.

“He’s fast, makes good passes and he loves the movement, so he can be a good player for Bielsa.”

Raphinha sees football as a catalyst for change to the conditions in which his family live and since childhood he has held two dreams that would transform all their lives.

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“It’s a dream to hear the anthem or play with the Champions League ball, it is a goal that I want to achieve,” said the winger.

“And the Seleçao is also a dream for any Brazilian.”

Those dreams remain some way down the road. The very next step on his journey will take place on the grounds of Thorp Arch as he attempts to show Bielsa he can contribute.

Playing for Leeds United in the Premier League is a journey, enjoy the running track.

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