Frank Christian
Raphinha, the standout player from Barcelona, has responded to a fan group that shared images of Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao in his No. 11 jersey during the summer.
The Brazilian winger, who has become an essential player for the team, described the act as “disrespectful” and expressed how it affected him emotionally.
Raphinha speaks out against disrespectful fan gestures
Throughout the summer transfer period, speculation regarding Raphinha’s potential departure from Barcelona gained traction. Some supporters even encouraged his replacement, sharing photos of Nico Williams donned in Barcelona colors with Raphinha’s famous No. 11. Raphinha was hurt by this gesture, labeling it “a joke in poor taste.”
“It felt disrespectful to me,” Raphinha mentioned during a press conference. “We’re all putting in the hard work for the club and to see something like that was not pleasant. I took it as a disregard for my efforts.”
Raphinha expressed that he felt ‘hurt’ after fans created jerseys showcasing Nico Williams’ name alongside his No. 11 this summer, calling it disrespectful and in poor taste.
Raphinha has scored six goals and contributed six assists in 12 games this season. pic.twitter.com/jydJQir8co
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 22, 2024
Despite the distractions surrounding his future, Raphinha chose to remain with the club and is now demonstrating his capabilities under the guidance of new coach Hansi Flick.
The 27-year-old has made a phenomenal start to the season, tallying six goals and six assists in just 12 matches.
Raphinha is committed to thriving at Barcelona as not just a key player, but also a leader. “Being a captain involves more than just the armband; it means supporting both veteran players and newcomers,” he stated.
His remarkable response to criticism sets the stage as he prepares for important games against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, and Raphinha aims to prove that Barcelona has no need for a substitute.
