Why Raphinha could be Hansi Flick’s most valuable player at Barcelona

I remember watching Raphinha at Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa. For me, he was the most exciting, and impactful player in the Premier League.

It was disappointing, but not surprising, to see the Brazilian struggle to rediscover his footballing magic under Xavi.

The Hansi Flick chapter at Barcelona, however, is starting to feel like the beginning of a renewal not only for the club, but also their star forward.

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One thing that many have noticed is how free and open the style of play feels compared to other Barcelona teams from the past five years.

There’s less of an emphasis on strict positioning, that instead puts the onus on the players to feel the game, trust one another, and find creative solutions in the moment.

That’s not to say there aren’t tactics. Flick has made it clear that he expects consistent intensity, with a focus on applying pressure high up the field. It’s not about where you start, meaning building from the back, but where you win the ball.

If you win it high up the field, it’s easier to break down the opposing defense, because it’s not set and organized. If you rely on building from the back, you give your opponents predictable patterns to defend against.

In this setup, everyone is looking more effective. Lamine Yamal is cooking with the ball at his feet. Robert Lewandowski is scoring goals. And Dani Olmo looks like a natural fit to the system.

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But no one has been better than Raphinha.

Even under Xavi, the Brazilian was never one to complain, even though it was clear that he wasn’t able to fully give what he is capable of. He simply put his head down, and was one of the few players to consistently put in the hard work of running and showing intensity.

He scored goals, and got assists, but his style and personality never came out.

In the first few games this season, his approach has been largely the same. He’s played as a false midfielder at times, and also on the left wing, but regardless of where he is put on paper, Flick has given him the liberty to follow his instincts in pursuit of creating danger.

And his teammates are playing off of him.

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If he decides to play through the middle, Alejandro Balde takes the space on the wing. If he plays on the wing, you have a player like Dani Olmo who can occupy the space in the middle.

He plays over the top and through, as demonstrated by the incredible finish to open the scoring against Valladolid. He can play on the outside and provide service, as he did with the killer assist to Ferran Torres.

Let Raphinha cook. That’s going to be one of the most important ingredients for Barca’s success.

He has a different profile than Lamine Yamal, who likes to operate almost exclusively with the ball at his feet. That’s important given his incredible abilities. But with Raphinha on the field, and unleashed to wreak havoc, defenders will always be on alert, never sure of where the next attack will come from.

That’s critical for Flick’s system to work.

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And that’s why Raphinha is getting more minutes than anyone in the early going.

He is a true gladiator that wants to stay on and fight.

Finally, he is being set up for success. Barcelona is seeing the player they thought they were investing in.

Let the players play so that the team can win.

Flick has been masterful at orchestrating success so far with a light touch that lets his players be the leaders on the field.

And Raphinha, so far, is the captain of the ship.