Illustrator Gabriel Foligno Photographer Pool - Getty Images
Analyzing Raphinha's Impact on Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United
Just over four years ago, Leeds United’s Raphinha was plying his trade in the Brazilian second division. Born and raised in the south of Brazil, in the city of Porto Alegre, Raphael Dias Belloni would spend hours every day juggling the…
Just over four years ago, Leeds United’s Raphinha was plying his trade in the Brazilian second division. Born and raised in the south of Brazil, in the city of Porto Alegre, Raphael Dias Belloni would spend hours every day juggling the ball in the same streets as the man he idolised, Ronaldinho. Now, having moved to Portugal, France, and now England, Raphinha is starting to establish himself as Marcelo Bielsa's new offensive weapon.
It was his idol’s former Barcelona teammate, Deco, that aided the skillful Brazilian’s career, signing him to his agency, D20Sports. After spending three and a half years playing in Portugal, scoring 24 Liga NOS goals by the age of 22, Raphinha was snapped up by Ligue 1 side, Rennes in 2019.
Rennes, renown for producing talents such as Ousmane Dembélé, Abdoulaye Doucouré and Eduardo Camavinga, signed the Brazilian for €21 million, making him their record signing. Rennes president, Olivier Létang described the signing as “the biggest transfer in the modern history of the Stade Rennais.”
Credits
Words
James Lloyd
