The El Clasico was transported to the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ when two Spanish heavyweights collided in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The Allegiant Stadium was adorned by football royalty. The likes of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior, and Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets and Pedri, represented the past, present and future of one of world football’s biggest rivalries.
But once the action got underway, it was the man recently arrived from Elland Road who stole the show. ‘Sensation Raphinha’ was the simple yet striking headline ran by AS, while Marca raved at the sight of a performance which as they described ‘bordered on excellence’.
The La Liga season may still be just under three weeks away, but Raphinha has made a telling statement in his opening two games for Barcelona.
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A debut goal and two assists in Barca’s 6-0 drubbing of an inferior Inter Miami was hardly anything out of the ordinary, but his rocket from range in the El Clasico was the ultimate way to endear himself to his new fanbase.
Leeds supporters will be all too familiar with Raphinha’s innate nature to dazzle a crowd. Just take his long-range drive on his first Premier League start against Everton as an example, or his jinking solo run beyond a sea of bodies against Norwich City, before he applied a delicate finish into the bottom corner.
Each supporter will have a favourite tale to tell but beyond Raphinha, ‘the entertainer’, was a character that galvanised his side and produced at the most crucial moments. His winning penalty against Crystal Palace and his openers at Watford and Brentford respectively all contributed to Leeds preserving their Premier League status last season.
And while one chapter has closed, another one has opened. Barca, led by club legend Xavi, are daring to restore their status as Spain’s chief footballing powerhouse. Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title and the Champions League last term but Barca look intent on knocking them off their podium.
That intent is reflected by their assault on the transfer market. Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie and Raphinha had already been unveiled, before Lewandowski, arguably the world’s greatest striker, completed his switch from Bayern Munich.
While Barca hope their latest revolution will lead to a repeat of their successes under Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, Leeds could also profit on their potential retransformation.
The reason for this is that the Whites could receive an additional £10.2 million if Raphinha wins the Champions League whilst contracted to the club, according to reports from Marca. Barca may not have lifted European football’s most coveted prize since 2015, but with a five-year deal at the Camp Nou, Raphinha will be determined to end that drought.
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