Barcelona forward Raphinha signed a new contract until 2030 on Thursday, Citizen Digital reported. The 29-year-old Brazilian is in top form before Sunday's top-of-the-table game against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium. Atletico are second in La Liga, two points behind the reigning champions.
Raphinha is playing a role Barcelona had planned for Atletico striker Julian Alvarez. According to the report, Alvarez tried to force a move to Barca, and the club's approach angered Atletico. The Spanish football federation fined Barcelona around 600 euros ($675) over the approach in October. Alvarez stayed in Madrid and later apologised to Atletico fans.
Barcelona moved on quickly. Once it became clear Alvarez would not arrive, coach Hansi Flick shifted Raphinha, usually a winger, to centre forward. Raphinha now has 19 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions. Alvarez has two goals in 11 appearances. Atletico supporters whistled him early in the season, though he has improved in recent weeks. Citizen Digital said Raphinha's form makes a Barca return for Alvarez next summer unlikely.
Barcelona won their first 11 games of the season in all competitions. They then lost twice in a row: 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and 2-1 at home to Real Madrid. Raphinha had picked up a thigh injury with Brazil at the end of September. He was below his best in both games, though he scored against Madrid. Four goals against Alaves and Aston Villa followed, suggesting he has fully recovered.
Raphinha admitted he had doubts about the new role at first. "You're in the spot where before there was only (Robert) Lewandowski," he said. He said he had also worried about playing with his back to goal, but felt he had done well and enjoyed it. Teammate Fermin Lopez put it simply in September: "We give him the balls and he puts them in the net."
Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds in 2022. He grew frustrated under former coach Xavi Hernandez, who did not seem to fully trust him. Flick arrived in 2024, and his high-pressing style suited the Brazilian. Raphinha is now one of the club captains. Injury kept him out last season when Atletico knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. On Sunday he gets another shot at Diego Simeone's side.