"I want to finish my career at FC Barcelona."
After completing his contract renewal with the club, Raphinha (29, Barcelona) stated through official channels that he wants to finish his career at Barcelona. The contract period is until 2028. The original contract was set to expire in 2027.
The British 'BBC' reported on the 23rd (Korean time) that "Raphinha has expressed his desire to spend his entire career at Barcelona as he signed a contract renewal with the club."
Raphinha noted, "It feels really special to be part of the Barcelona family for another year. I am very happy," and he added, "I have told my family for a long time. My dream is to play for this club until the end of my career."
He further added, "Of course, it is contingent on maintaining the best condition."
Raphinha, who joined Barcelona in 2022 after leaving Leeds United, scored only 13 goals in his first two seasons in the league and was at the center of transfer rumors. Amid a financial crisis, he also attracted interest from Premier League and Saudi Arabian clubs.
This season has been different. Raphinha scored 18 goals in La Liga in a single season and made a significant contribution to reaching the semifinals with 13 goals and 9 assists in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona completed the domestic treble by winning La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa.
Based on this performance, Raphinha is mentioned as one of the candidates for the Ballon d'Or this season. Along with his teammate Lamine Yamal (Spain), he is also in competition with Ousmane Dembélé (France) from Paris Saint-Germain.
Raphinha, who recorded 34 goals and 25 assists this season, is also included in the team's leadership group of five. He serves as a captain alongside Marc-André ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri.
He said, "Now I am 'Papa and captain Raphinha,'" smiling, and added, "My sense of responsibility has definitely grown. I have matured more than when I first joined, and I believe I can continue to grow."
Finally, he emphasized, "I want to record more goals and assists. Above all, my personal goal is to win more titles wearing this uniform."
Meanwhile, Barcelona has its final match of the season against Athletic Bilbao on the 26th.
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