Raphinha wants to retire at Barcelona after new deal

Raphinha has signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2028. He says his "dream is to be at Barcelona until the end of my career."

The Brazil winger has had an impressive season. He scored 34 goals and made 25 assists in 56 appearances. His team won La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup.

Raphinha expressed happiness about being part of the Barca family for another year. His previous contract was set to expire in 2027.

He joined Barcelona in 2022 from Leeds United. During his two seasons in the Premier League, he scored 17 goals.

Initially, Raphinha struggled in Spain with only 13 league goals over two seasons. Due to financial issues, he was considered a candidate for sale.

However, the 2024-25 season marked a turnaround for him. He scored 18 goals and helped Barcelona reclaim the La Liga title.

Raphinha also contributed significantly in the Champions League, with 13 goals and nine assists. This performance attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League and Saudi Arabia.

After this stellar season, he is now a contender for the Ballon d'Or. Other contenders include his teammate Lamine Yamal and PSG's Ousmane Dembele.

Raphinha was voted one of Barcelona's five captains this season. The other captains are Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri.

He stated, "I'm now Raphinha, the dad and the captain." He feels more responsible than when he first arrived at Barca.

Raphinha believes he has matured since joining but can still improve further. With support from others, he aims to become a better person and player.

His personal goal is to keep scoring goals and winning titles with Barcelona's shirt on.

Barcelona will finish their season against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.