Five key reasons behind Raphinha’s good form – report

After a disappointing first half of the season, Barcelona winger Raphinha has shown signs that he is finally starting to come into his own.

The 26-year-old was one of the big-money summer signings that Barcelona made, but unlike Robert Lewandowski or Jules Kounde, he had failed to hit the ground running despite impressing in pre-season.

A slow decline in performances coincided with the Catalans’ elimination from the UEFA Champions League, leading to his opportunities in the team receding. Another issue was Raphinha’s preference to play on the right flank, which was made his own by Ousmane Dembele.

Amidst the adversities of adapting to a new team and the lack of game-time, speculations about a January exit were doing rounds, with Arsenal showing interest. But, in recent weeks, Raphinha has managed to turn things around in his favour, steadily growing into an important player.

The winger scored an important goal against Real Betis last week which was followed by a goal and an assist versus Sevilla last night. The Brazilian now has six goals and eight assists to his name, averaging a goal-involvement every 107.7 minutes.

Toni Juanmarti has now come up with an extensive report outlining the five key reasons behind Raphinha’s sudden spike in form.

Firstly, Raphinha has been receiving tips from his agent and ex-Barcelona star Deco. The former footballer is understood to have stressed the importance of not taking criticism to heart and accepting negative comments as part of the game.

At the same time, the former Leeds United winger has been receiving great support from his family. His father is said to be imparting advice to the Barça star, which has had an influence.

At the same time, the forward’s mother and aunts have recently visited Barcelona, which is understood to have helped him stay optimistic amidst difficult times.

While all these off-the-pitch factors have helped Raphinha, the winger is also believed to be putting in the hard yards in training to improve his game.

The report states that the coaching staff has always valued the ex-Rennes ace’s commitment and dedication. But they have been working to help him improve his decision-making in the final third since the World Cup, which is starting to reflect in his performances.

Finally, the coaches are also pressing on Raphinha to avoid plays with a low success rate.

All these factors have played a role in the winger’s improved displays recently and fans will hope that he carries on in the same vein for the remainder of the season.