If FC Barcelona is once again dreaming of reaching a new Champions League final, it’s thanks, in part, to the extraordinary and unexpected performance of Raphinha throughout the tournament. However, his situation looked very different just a year ago, and Raphinha didn’t hesitate to speak out against Xavi Hernández in an interview with journalist Isabela Pagliari ahead of the match against Inter Milan.

Hansi Flick has transformed Raphinha

A few weeks ago, Raphinha himself revealed that he was very close to leaving FC Barcelona last summer. However, it was Hansi Flick who convinced him to stay and made it clear from day one how important he was to his project. Now, just a few months later, wearing the captain’s armband, it’s obvious that Raphinha has become a completely different player—so much so that many experts now consider him the leading favorite to win the next Ballon d'Or.

“Things weren’t working out. I was coming off a season below what I knew I could deliver, and I saw people asking for me to leave, which wasn’t good for the club. Every day, there were reports I was going to leave. I ended up believing it. After the Copa América, Hansi called me and told me to show up to training before making any decisions, that he wanted to talk, and that he was counting on me,” said Raphinha.

Raphinha criticizes Xavi Hernández

Now, in this new interview with Isabela Pagliari, Raphinha went even further and revealed how he felt during the time Xavi Hernández was coaching Barcelona: “When there was no one else, I was there, and I played 90 minutes. I gave it my all, I won games. But when someone else could play in my position, he would pick them without hesitation.” Raphinha also revealed that he had conversations with Xavi trying to change the situation… but nothing worked.

Under Xavi Hernández, Raphinha played a total of 87 matches, contributing to 45 goals—strong numbers for a winger. But they pale in comparison to the 56 goal contributions he’s made under Hansi Flick in just 52 matches. In fact, 20 of those have come in this season’s Champions League, where he's one step away from matching the best-ever campaign by a player in the competition’s history—Cristiano Ronaldo's 21 goals in the 2013/2014 season.