Hansi Flick has backed Barcelona forward Raphinha to win the Ballon d’Or on the Nou Camp.
Brazil international Raphinha is having fun with a sensational season for Barca, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 35 games.
The 28-year-old’s form has helped Barcelona climb to the highest of the La Liga table and put one foot within the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Flick believes Raphinha’s form means he should be regarded as a contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or award together with the likes of Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid summer signing Kylian Mbappe.
Barcelona’s manager was asked about his player’s possibilities of winning the Ballon d’Or ahead of the crucial Champions League last-16 clash against Benfica on Tuesday night.
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‘Raphinha for the Ballon d’Or? He’s a candidate, yes. In fact, if he does well this season he could have a likelihood,’ Flick said.
‘He all the time helps us so much, and in the event you see the goals he has scored it shows you the way hungry he’s. You see it, it’s good to see how focused he’s. I’m glad together with his level.’
Barcelona recovered from a first-half red card to beat Benfica 1-0 in the primary leg of their last-16 clash. As has often been the case this season, it was Raphinha who got on the scoresheet.
‘They’ve a terrific team,’ Flick said of Benfica. ‘Bruno Lage does a terrific job and you’ll be able to see his philosophy on the pitch.
‘The perfect thing is for us to be 100% focused and never think concerning the first leg. Normally they all the time press high.
‘They try this thoroughly, they’ve won loads of away games. We now have to deal with that.
‘It’s all about positioning, good possession helps us so much each in attack and defence. That’s what we would like to do tomorrow.’
Chelsea and Arsenal were heavily linked with moves for Raphinha before he joined Barcelona in a deal value £55m.
Chelsea even had an agreement with Leeds United to bring him to Stamford Bridge however the Brazilian favoured a move to Spain.
Last summer, Raphinha was linked with a return to the Premier League, with Manchester United expressing interest in securing his signature.
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