Raphinha confirms he plans to renew with Barcelona: "I hope to end my career here"

Raphinha stands today as the most visible face of a Barcelona side that is demolishing scoring records under Hansi Flick. The Brazilian, converted into a central striker this season by the German coach, has scored eleven goals across LaLiga and the Champions League and has earned the captain's armband. In an interview with RAC 1, he was emphatic about his future: he wants to extend a deal that currently runs until 2027 and does not rule out retiring as a Barcelona player.

• Raphinha says he plans to renew with Barcelona, although only initial talks have taken place so far.
• He rejected a massive offer from Saudi Arabia last summer and admits it was very tempting for his family.
• Hansi Flick's arrival was key to him staying and becoming the team's first captain.
• He feels comfortable as a central striker, an unexpected role where he is delivering record numbers.
• His main sporting goal is to win the Champions League and add another LaLiga title with Barcelona.

Raphinha opens the door to extending his contract beyond 2028

The forward signed his last renewal with Barcelona with 2028 in mind. At the time, he explained, he was unsure how his body would hold up at 30 or 31 years old. The start of the season has erased any doubt. "The way I have started, I can go for a few more years and I would be very happy to extend my contract," he said.

Yes, I plan to renew. I hope I can finish my career here without having to go anywhere else.

Negotiations are still at an early stage. Raphinha clarified that nothing has been signed or made official yet, but his willingness is clear and the club is already working on an extension that nobody questions given his current form.

The Saudi Arabia offer that could have changed everything

Just a few months ago, Raphinha's continuity at Barcelona was far from guaranteed. A lucrative proposal from Saudi Arabia arrived with force and threatened to turn his head. The player admitted the figures were "very tempting" and would have changed his family's life.

However, Flick's arrival proved decisive. The German coach gave him confidence from day one and presented him with a competitive project in which the Brazilian felt like a key figure. That silenced the outside interest, and Raphinha now has a clear stance: he would only leave if the coach stopped counting on him.

From winger to central striker: Raphinha's goalscoring reinvention

Raphinha has adapted to a role he never expected to fill. Flick told him before a match that he would play as the attacking reference, and the Brazilian admits he had doubts because that position demands goals. The results have proved him right: nine goals in LaLiga and two in the Champions League, a pace that evokes historic scoring records.

The player confessed he is surprised by how comfortable he feels playing with his back to central defenders, joking about the physical punishment that comes with leading the line. His mindset, he says, allows him to perform anywhere on the pitch. "It seems I am a better striker than winger and I didn't know it," he remarked with a smile.

Captain, physical leader and Lewandowski's shadow

Flick informed Raphinha during the week of the Joan Gamper Trophy that he would take over the captaincy. For the Brazilian, wearing the Barcelona armband "is something special" and represents recognition of his growth inside the dressing room. His influence goes beyond the pitch: he keeps a photo with Robert Lewandowski in his locker from the end of last season and shares a close bond with Lamine Yamal, with whom he has rehearsed superhero-themed celebrations.

Physical preparation also has a name behind it. The addition of Benjamin Kugel to the coaching staff has raised the team's fitness level, something Raphinha values highly. The Brazilian admits the fear of injury always exists, but he trusts the method put in place to stay strong throughout the campaign.

What is at stake for Barcelona this season with Raphinha leading the way

The push for the Champions League and LaLiga

On a personal level, Raphinha is not obsessed with individual awards. He considers it unfair to be left out of the Ballon d'Or conversation, and he extends that feeling to teammates like Pedri, but his focus is on collective success. Winning the Champions League and adding another league title would be, in his words, "spectacular".

The generational shift and Lamine Yamal

Barcelona's captain has no doubts about the future: Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or. He said so without hesitation during the interview, showing the dressing room's confidence in the young academy product, with whom Raphinha has built a special connection both on and off the pitch.