Raphinha: ‘FC Barcelona Are Better Than Real Madrid’

SportsMoney Raphinha: ‘FC Barcelona Are Better Than Real Madrid’ Tom Sanderson Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Jul 20, 2022, 03:35am EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin New FC Barcelona signing Raphinha has declared that his team are better than bitter rivals Real .

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Getty Images New FC Barcelona signing Raphinha has boasted that the club has a better team than bitter rivals Real Madrid. The Brazil international made his debut for the Catalans in Miami on Tuesday night after joining from Leeds United as part of a deal believed to be worth over €60mn with add-ons finalized last week. Allowed to start the opening fixture of Barca’s U.

S. tour against Inter Miami, the 25-year-old rewarded the faith showed in him by coach Oscar Hernandez – who was stepping in for brother Xavi unable to make the trip yet due to passport issues – by scoring his maiden goal in Blaugrana colors in the 25th minute. Following the 6-0 win which also saw the likes of Gavi, Ansu Fati and positional rival Ousmane Dembele get on the scoresheet, the Porto Alegre native made comments that will no doubt enchant his fanbase and annoy another.

With Barca’s bitter enemies from the mainland capital waiting next in Las Vegas on July 24, Raphinha declared: “We are better than Real Madrid and of course I want to face them. ” Full of praise for his new teammates, Raphinha said that “playing with these players at Barca makes everything easier”. MORE FOR YOU WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Results: Winners, News And Notes As Roman Reigns Beats The Demon The World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2021: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo Reclaims Top Spot From PSG’s Lionel Messi The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The San Francisco 49ers “I still have to adapt to the team’s game, but they are helping me and I hope to help them too,” he revealed.

As one of Europe’s most-wanted forwards until switching allegiances last Friday, with interest from Chelsea putting Barca’s approach in jeopardy, Raphinha remains convinced that he chose the right destination and was correct in holding out for his dream club. “Barca has a great team, with very talented players, and I think the future is theirs,” he said. “Barca is in good hands and must fight for big titles,” he insisted.

With Xavi now boasting plenty of options in almost every area of the pitch, defender Eric Garcia noted that competition for places “always makes everyone better”. “We have many top players in all positions and they are all duplicated with people of a high level,” explained the ex-Manchester City man. “Everyone will make an extra [effort] to want to play.

Competition is good for the players, but especially for the team,” he concluded. Follow me on Twitter . Tom Sanderson Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.