The real Raphinha has gone missing at the worst possible time for Barcelona | OneFootball

The latest international break has clearly left a strong mark on Barcelona winger Raphinha. The Brazilian forward found himself at the centre of controversy due to remarks made before Brazil’s high-stakes encounter against Argentina.

With the result not going his way, the criticism only intensified, and it appears that the emotional and intellectual strain from that episode continues to linger.

Upon returning to Barcelona, Hansi Flick took a cautious approach to shield Raphinha. Rather than rushing him back into action, the German manager opted to give the player time to get better mentally.

Flick acknowledged that pushing him too soon may do extra harm. In a show of trust and long-term vision, he gave Raphinha enough space to settle before reintegrating him into the squad.

It must be noted that Raphinha was given a start in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund, and it appeared for a moment that he was back to his best.

He produced an energetic show, providing two assists and scoring a goal. It was the type of performance that fans have been expecting—full of energy, intent, and direct impact on the scoreboard.

Unconvincing display raises alarm bells

Raphinha has struggled to make a strong impact in recent matches. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, the return leg in Germany painted a completely different image. Raphinha seemed absolutely out of sync with the rhythm of the match.

He seemed slow, disconnected, and mentally unsettled. Even in a game wherein Barcelona held a sizeable advantage from the first leg, the Brazilian could not manage to assert his authority.

To put things in perspective, his contact was off, his passes lacked accuracy, and his presence seemed like a shadow of the player who shone just a week earlier.

Even set-piece obligations, something that is his strength, did not offer any consolation. He seemed unsure even as taking corners, and the shortage of self-belief in his body language became hard to disregard.

For what it is worth, this was not just an average off-day—it felt like a deeper issue that needs to be addressed sooner.

Will the real Raphinha please stand up?

Against Dortmund, Raphinha’s influence was subdued. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Raphinha’s performance against Borussia Dortmund followed a similarly uninspiring outing against Leganes over the weekend.

Like much of the players on that day, he lacked sharpness, but his dip in performance was even more major.

He seemed absent from the core of the match, rarely involved in meaningful action, and struggled to make his mark.

What makes the situation more concerning for Barcelona is the drop in his productivity.

Since returning from international commitment in March, Raphinha has only contributed to three goals—and all of them came in the first leg against Dortmund.

For a player considered one of the main creative forces in the squad and also a Ballon d’Or candidate, those numbers are far from reassuring.

Flick faces critical days with Raphinha

Hansi Flick has a huge task at hand. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

With important matches coming up, Flick now faces the task of assisting Raphinha to get better, where the manager will probably need to focus on rebuilding the Brazilian’s self-belief.

Raphinha is extremely crucial as his ability to create chances, stretch defences, and deliver goals is something Barcelona cannot afford to miss in the season’s crucial moments.

There is absolutely no doubt that the winger is dedicated, and his effort on the pitch is in no way in question.

However, effort without clarity and confidence leads to unpredictable outcomes, and that is exactly what Raphinha is currently showing.