Flick’s Raphinha gamble raises prospect of a Cristiano Ronaldo-style career shift

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has successfully transformed Raphinha into a central attacking threat, with the Brazil international scoring six goals in his first four La Liga matches and two more against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

The decision came after Barcelona struggled to find a traditional number nine in the transfer market. Flick instead placed Raphinha at the heart of the attack, and the 28-year-old has responded by leading the La Liga scoring charts.

Raphinha’s form has surprised almost everyone, apart from Vitor Campelos, the first coach to use him as a centre-forward in European football. Campelos, now manager of Slovenian club Celje, coached Raphinha when he was 19 and playing for Vitoria Guimaraes B.

“We played him as a centre-forward in only one match, at the end of the 2015-16 season against Porto B, because he had the qualities required to play in that position,” Campelos told Sport.

Raphinha has made an explosive start to the campaign and has become only the sixth player in Barcelona’s history to score at least six goals in the club’s first four La Liga matches. His European tally has also reached two goals.

Campelos believes the Brazilian’s finishing ability was evident from an early stage.

“Raphinha was still a very young boy, but he had one outstanding quality: he was extremely decisive and precise when facing the goalkeeper,” he said. “Scoring was easy for him when he was one-on-one.”

The Portuguese coach now believes Raphinha could establish himself permanently as a central striker, following a career path similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who began as a winger before moving into a more central role.

“That could be his position in the future,” Campelos said. “He may go through a similar development to Cristiano, who always played as a winger before later becoming the focal point of the attack.”

Raphinha’s contribution extends beyond his goals. He has consistently been praised for his work-rate and commitment, whether operating wide or through the middle, and is often the first Barcelona player to press when opponents try to build from the back.

“I did not expect him to play for Barcelona and the Brazil national team, but we were certain he would represent major clubs because of his professionalism,” Campelos said. “He trained at maximum intensity every day, with the best mentality, the highest intensity and great seriousness.”

The 51-year-old regularly uses Raphinha as an example for his younger players.

“I often tell my teams: ‘I worked with Raphinha, and he could sprint 10 or 20 metres at maximum intensity. He is the kind of player every coach wants: he has quality, plays for the team, radiates energy and possesses a champion’s mentality.’”

In just over four seasons with Barcelona, Raphinha has scored 83 goals and provided 53 assists in 182 appearances. Those figures brought him close to winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, although he is not included among this year’s 30 nominees.

“I would really like to see him win it,” Campelos added. “Considering everything he has achieved and his continued development, he deserves the award. He came from humble beginnings, worked extremely hard to reach this level and has the ability to achieve it.”