Raphinha — A Bavarian Or A Scouse
Raphael Dias Belloli (born 14 December 1996), known as Raphinha, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Leeds United and the Brazil national team.
At 18 years old, Raphinha started his career with the Avaí’s under-20 team in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2014.
On 2 February 2016, Raphinha signed for Portuguese side Vitória Guimarães, having been scouted at the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior by Deco, who signed him to his agency, D20 Sports, and arranged his transfer to Vitória. He won the Vitória Guimarães Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2017. He scored 18 goals during 43 games (in all competitions) during the 2017–18 Primeira Liga season for Vitória Guimarães.
In May 2018, he transferred to Portuguese club Sporting CP until 2019. Raphinha was part of the side who won the 2018–19 Taça da Liga.
He signed for French club Rennes in 2019, with a transfer fee around €21 million.He scored eight goals and gained seven assists during his time at the club, where he helped Rennes to a third place finish and qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League during the 2019–20 Ligue 1 season.
On 5 October 2020, he joined Leeds United on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.So far in 17 matches he has scored 8 goals and 1 assist to his name.
Raphinha is a forward midfielder, who operates in the right wing. He is a left- footed player.
So below is the analysis of Raphinha over the 17 matches he has played.
As he is a right winger, we can see that his majority of passes are sprayed over the right wing, with few in the middle and less in the left wing. Sometimes he likes to operate from left wing too, hence he has got passes from the left side.
His ball progression is decent, his ball carrying progression ad ball passing progression ranks him on 4.25. He is behind Leo Messi with 11.0.
From the above figure we can see his carries into the danger zone i.e into 18yards and into 6 yards ranks him on the 4th quadrant. He is behind Michael Olise who is at the top quadrant.
We can see that he ranks way behind in defense splitting passes or key passes. He ranks only 0.8, while Eden Hazard ranks 4.2.
We can see that Raphina ranks in the first quadrant and at the top in terms of progressive carries and successful dribbles past the opponents.
From the above figure we can see that Raphinha ranks decent in tackle wins and interceptions with 3.0. He has a good defensive rate of work too.
Raphinha has 8 goals to his name in 17 matches played. From the above heatmap we can see that his majority of goals are within the 18 yard box.
We can see that his ball recoveries are mainly down the right side of the field
In the defensive half, him being a right winger
From the above figure we can see that his ball touches are down the right wing, while some touches are in the defensive half of the right side of the field.
He has mostly tackled players and won tackles in the right side of the field. It goes on to show that he is defensively apt too.
From the above figure we can see that his pass flows down the right side mostly. However he has sprayed his passes all over the pitch, but he has maximum down the right wing.
From the above figure we can see the progressive passes which Raphinha received from other players compared to other passes he received. We can see that progressive passes which are received are mostly down the right side,with few spread over the middle and left side of the pitch.
From the above radar we can see that Raphinha ranks decent in expected assist with 0.25, while his aerial prowess in the air is at 20.73.
He ranks decent in tackle plus Interception with 3.32. He ranks 0.27 in dead ball passes, however he ranks very low in goal creating actions from dead ball at 0.05. He ranks 2.21 in clearances.
He has 5.33 in the number of dribbles which he had attempted. He has a rank of 0.37 in goals. Even though he has scored 8 goals in 17 matches, he ranks quite decent.
Of late Brazilian winger Raphinha was linked with a potential move to Bayern Munich during the January transfer window for of a fee of around €50 million.
The Athletic reported that Leeds is working on a potential contract extension for their Brazilian winger. However, new information from Sky Sports Germany suggests that the topic of a potential transfer to Bayern is something that’s being seriously considered at the club in the event that Kingsley Coman doesn’t renew his contract and decides to leave.
We will compare Raphinha with Coman and see what he will be bringing to Bayern,if the move goes through.
We can see from the above radars that Coman has scored 4 goals in 10 matches played with scoring 0.33 goals per 90 minute, while Raphiha has already 8 goals in 17 matches he played, with his goals at 0.37 per 90.. Coman has expected goal (xG) of 3.31, while Raphinha has xG of 5.32.
Raphinha has 1 assist to his name with expected Assist(xA) 2.80, while Coman has 0 assists and xA with 0.74.
Coman ranks very low in dead ball passes with only 0.92, while Raphinha scores a mammoth 6.91.
Coman’s defensive actions (tackle plus Interception) is quite low with only him ranking 2.09 per 90 minutes. While Raphinha has a decent 3.19 per 90 minutes.
Coman leads 1.22 per 90 minutes in passes which leads to a shot scoring opportunity that is Key Passes, while Raphinha edges him with 1.80 per 90 minutes.
In progressive passes, Coman ranks only 3.59 per 90 min with 59 percentile, while Raphinha scores 4.98 per 90 minute with 89 percentile.
Coman’s primary position is as a right winger, but his secondary positions are as a second striker or as a left winger.
Meanwhile, Raphinha’s primary position is as a right winger, but his secondary position is a left winger.
Raphinha has taken to England like a duck to water. With his sublime close control, immense dribbling and speed, he has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent wingers and the scourge of fullbacks up and down the country.
Bielsa is famed for his high pressing, gung-ho style of football, which has fitted Raphinha like a glove, and his high energy has meant he never shirked away from the defensive side of the game as last season he ranked amongst the top 10 for tackles + interceptions per 90 amongst forwards in the Premier League with 3.19, but it is his ability with the ball that has garnered him many suitors across Europe.
Raphinha’s versatility means that he can play on either wing but also operate in the number 10 role if required. He has stupendous close control, dribbling ability and agility that harkens similarities to Riyad Mahrez, which allows him to dribble past his marker. Even though he is heavily left-footed, he is not afraid of going down the line on his right foot, making him even harder to defend against.
The 25-year-old is not just all show, however, as the Brazilian combines flair with effectiveness. He has a great crossing ability which leads to him being a constant threat on set plays. His passing ability is superb as his switches across the pitch lead to unbalancing the opposition.
All of this contributed to him supplying nine assists last season in the Premier League
Not only is he an excellent playmaker, but he is also calm and composed in front of goal. Last season, he scored 6 goals in the Premier League, but he has already surpassed that tally with 8 goals in 17 appearances this season and almost half of the games still remain.
His goal scoring threat is not limited to inside the box, as he can also shoot from outside as well
He is not only comfortable on the wing, as the former Avaí youth player is equally as comfortable coming in between the lines and combining with his teammates.
With Afcon around the corner, both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will be leaving for International duty.Liverpool are also monitoring Raphinha. The Reds are planning for long-term attacking options,
We will compare Raphinha to Salah and Mane to see what he will be bringing at Anfield in the absence of these lethal wingers, if the deal goes through.
We will first compare Raphinha with Salah
In 20 matches Salah played, he has scored 16 goals taking his percentile to 97, meanwhile Raphinha has scored 8 goals with his percentile of 81. Expected goal(xG/90) for Salah is 15.61, taking his percentile to a perfect 99. Meanwhile for Raphinha, his xG is 5.32, taking his percentile to a measly 76.
Salah has 9 assists to his name, with Raphinha contributing only 1 assist.
Salah contributes less in defense splitting pass or key passes with 58 percentile,meanwhile for Raphinha its 84 percentile.
In progressive passes, Salah ranks with 67 percentile, while Raphinha ranks with 89 percentile.
We can see that Salah ranks very less in dead ball passes with measly 11, meanwhile Raphinha ranks 91 in dead ball passess.
Salah lacks defensive nous with 1 in tackle per interception, 4 in shots blocked and 19 percentile in clearances from danger area. On the other hand Raphinha ranks 84 in tackle and interceptions, 82 in shots blocked and 94 percentile in clearance from danger zone.
We will now compare Sadio Mane with Raphinha
In 20 matches Mane played, he has scored 8 goals taking his percentile to 86, meanwhile Raphinha has scored 8 goals with his percentile of 81. Expected goal(xG/90) for Mane is 10.50, taking his percentile to a 94. Meanwhile for Raphinha, his xG is 5.32, taking his percentile to a measly 76.
Mane has 1 assist to his name, with Raphinha also contributing only 1 assist.
Mane contributes less in defense splitting pass or key passes with 40 percentile,meanwhile for Raphinha its 84 percentile.
In progressive passes, Mane ranks with 53 percentile, while Raphinha ranks with 89 percentile.
We can see that Mane ranks very less in dead ball passes with measly 4, meanwhile Raphinha ranks 91 in dead ball passess.
Salah lacks defensive nous with 28 in tackle per interception, 54 in shots blocked and 22 percentile in clearances from danger area. On the other hand Raphinha ranks 84 in tackle and interceptions, 82 in shots blocked and 94 percentile in clearance from danger zone.
Raphinha has been a beacon of light for Leeds who sit in the relegation zone. According to data collected from SofaScore, Raphinha has been the highest-rated player for the Whites this season (7.04), taking more shots per game (three) than any other player in the squad.
Liverpool will be requiring increased minutes from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi during the absences of Mane and Salah and Johnson stated that whilst they are good ‘impact players’ for the Anfield side, they aren’t up to replacing the starters for longer periods, unlike Raphinha.
With Bayern Munich after him, it will be a tough transfer window. Whoever team Raphinha goes to, he will be surely an asset for them.
Leeds will need to work hard to keep the Brazilian goal machine at the club to avoid the disastrous mistake of selling him, and a contract extension would be hugely beneficial towards preserving the club’s future in the Premier League given the consistent output that Raphinha offers.
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