HIGHLIGHTS
- Raphinha was a standout player at Leeds United, impressing fans with his directness and left-foot brilliance.
- Despite hurdles in his second season, Raphinha took on the responsibility of keeping Leeds in the Premier League by scoring crucial goals.
- Raphinha’s tenure at Leeds catapulted his career to new heights, scoring 29 goals in two seasons before joining Barcelona.
Leeds United had several standout players during their three-year Premier League stay, which ran from 2020-21 to 2022-23. However, one man stuck out above the rest.
That player was Raphinha, who made an enormous impact in 67 games for the club, impressing fans with his directness and left-foot wizardry.
The Brazilian signed for the Whites from Rennes for £17 million ahead of the club’s return to the Premier League, and his good performances in France and Portugal raised expectations.
While Leeds fans were unable to enjoy his first season at Elland Road due to Covid-19, the next season saw supporters reintegrate into stadia, and Raphinha proceeded to amaze, leaving a legacy until he eventually joined Barcelona in 2022.
Raphinha’s Elland Road impact
Raphinha made a significant influence at Elland Road during Leeds’ successful comeback to the top division under Marcelo Bielsa.
The winger was brilliant in possession and combined it with his manager’s archetypal workrate, which he expects from everybody who wants to play for him. Furthermore, his dead-ball ability was a continuous threat to opponents, and he was not one-footed, since he could use his right foot when necessary.
This made him an incredibly difficult winger to predict, with left-backs not knowing whether he would take it down the line or turn back inside and unleash a shot.
He played primarily on the right side of midfield and made his first important contribution to the squad with a 79th-minute winner against Everton at Goodison Park. It was also a stunning finish, with the Brazilian firing a fizzing strike into the bottom right corner past Jordan Pickford.
Goals against Everton became a recurring theme throughout his stay in Yorkshire, with the winger scoring twice more in his following three games against the club.
Raphinha continued to impress throughout the 2020-21 season, scoring six goals and assisting nine times as the Whites finished eighth.
Raphinha keeps Leeds United alive.
The following year, Bielsa’s style was somewhat refined, and Leeds struggled to earn anywhere like the points they had the previous year. This resulted in a managerial change, with Jesse Marsch hired as head coach.
During this campaign, the Brazilian took it upon himself to steer his team out of danger, and he was the main goalscoring threat, with Patrick Bamford’s figures dipping dramatically due to injuries.
He scored eight goals in his first sixteen appearances, repaying the Argentine’s belief in him. However, as Leeds’ record dipped in January 2022, he struggled to make any meaningful contributions as the team turned to Marsch.
This would only be a short setback, as he demonstrated his talent on the final day of the season to keep the club’s Premier League status.
Raphinha came up big when Leeds needed a win, scoring a penalty in the 54th minute to give his team the lead over Brentford. This caused huge celebrations in the away end, and despite the Bees equalizing, Jack Harrison struck a deflected volley past David Raya in extra time to secure a critical victory – Raphinha (shown below) climbed into the stands to join the crowd.
This moment in front of the travelling fans would be his last as a Leeds player, as the Brazilian moved to Barcelona in the summer for £55 million.
| Raphinha’s Leeds United statistics (Transfermarkt) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Matches | Goals | Assists |
| 2020/21 | 31 | 6 | 9 |
| 2021/22 | 36 | 11 | 3 |
| Total | 67 | 17 | 12 |
Raphinha’s two-season legacy at Leeds United
While he fared well before to his time in Yorkshire, it was with Leeds United that he truly transformed his career into the player he is now.
His 29 goal contributions over two seasons have only increased at Barça, where he has 45 in 87 games. He has also established himself as a star in Brazil, scoring eight goals in 29 appearances.
For Leeds fans, Victor Orta’s recruitment of Raphinha is his crowning achievement, as the Brazilian became a modern-day legend despite only making 67 appearances. They will undoubtedly continue to wish him well and hope that he can advance his profession to new heights.
