Westerner Media: Rafinha Allows Deco to Shake Off Nepotism Suspicions; He Has Been Most Involved in Goals and Has the Most Playing Time

According to Spain’s AS newspaper, Rafinha is currently enjoying a sweet period at Barcelona. This season, he has not only been involved in 11 goals but has also become Flick’s favorite player, which has brought great relief to the club’s sporting director, Deco.

Initially, Rafinha’s name was used as ammunition to criticize Deco. The transfer fee of 58 million euros, combined with the fact that Deco is also Rafinha’s agent, led many to suspect that Deco might be engaging in “nepotism.”

In this atmosphere of suspicion, Deco had a tough time, and Rafinha was always in the spotlight. The poor performance of another Brazilian player, Vitor Roque, after his arrival made things even more complicated. The club had to repeatedly respond to external doubts and even issued an official statement.

However, Flick’s arrival seemed like a panacea for both Deco and Rafinha. Now, no one complains about Deco bringing in Rafinha anymore; instead, they praise him for his keen eye. This Brazilian international has become Flick’s most frequently used player (931 minutes played) at the start of this season, even surpassing the previously indispensable Konrad (923 minutes).

Rafinha’s statistics are impressive: in 11 games, he has been involved in 11 goals, including scoring 6 goals and providing 5 assists. In the match against Valladolid, he scored a hat-trick.

These achievements have allowed him to sleep soundly, but Rafinha’s role extends beyond just scoring. He has become the absolute benchmark for high pressing, covering the longest distance in running, and having the strongest ability to maintain high-intensity running, almost like a “perpetual motion machine” on the field.

With such outstanding talent and dedication, Rafinha has completely won over the hearts of the fans. Now, no one questions the 58 million euros spent on bringing him from Leeds United. More importantly, considering the current market situation, this amount seems like a real bargain.

The possibility of Rafinha leaving the team is now virtually zero—although there were some transfer rumors about him this summer, a breach-of-contract fee of 1 billion euros is a significant obstacle. Rafinha signed a long-term contract with the club, valid until June 30, 2027, and is now considered an irreplaceable treasure by the club and coaching staff.

“I am in the best moment of my career,” Rafinha himself believes. Since the arrival of the German coach, he has felt unprecedented recognition in the locker room: this summer, he was selected as the third captain, behind Ter Stegen and Araujo. Deco can finally breathe a sigh of relief, shedding the pressure he previously faced.