The Raphinha transfer saga is finally over, after Barcelona confirmed the signing of the former Leeds United winger, unveiling him on Friday afternoon.
That brought a conclusion to Catalan's long-running chase for the Brazilian, who has been linked a move to Camp Nou since early last season. Raphinha leaves Elland Road having scored 17 times for Leeds United in the Premier League, 11 goals last season as he finished the campaign as the Whites' leader goalscorer.
His final act in a Leeds United shirt was to celebrate in the away end at Brentford following Leeds' dramatic last-day survival last season. As he begins life at the La Liga side, we take a look at his defining moments in England.
First goal in Goodison Park victory
Raphinha offered Leeds a sample of what was to come with a stunning long-range strike against Everton at Goodison Park on only his second Premier League start. In a match that saw Jack Harrison strike the post and Jordan Pickford produce a string of crucial stops, Raphinha provided the match deciding moment.
He received the ball from Harrison in space and scanned his options. Ben Godrey was slow to close him down and Raphinha punished him ruthlessly by driving an unstoppable low effort into the far bottom corner.
Newcastle masterclass
The Brazilian was at his best when Leeds defeated Newcastle United in late-January 2021. He opened the scoring with a low finish that nestled into the bottom corner and also crashed an effort from an acute angle against the cheek of the post.
Newcastle equalised after the break when Miguel Almiron breached the Leeds defence to convert past Illan Meslier from close range. But Leeds restored their lead just three minutes later when Harrison volleyed Raphinha’s elegant deft flick beyond the reach of Karl Darlow.
'Ending' Gary Cahill
Away from his goalscoring heroics, the one moment that Leeds United fans will probably remember Raphinha for most fondly is a sublime moment of skill that left former England defender Gary Cahill in a daze, when Leeds saw off Crystal Palace in February 2021.
A sublime back-heel flick left the defender with no choice but the drag the Brazilian down as he went past the former Chelsea man, in a moment that thrilled Whites fans.
Last-gasp Palace winner
Leeds started the evening in the relegation zone after registering just two wins from their opening 13 league matches of the 2021-22 campaign. They looked set to stay in the bottom three until Marc Guehi was penalised for handling the ball inside the penalty area deep into second-half stoppage time.
Elland Road held its breath as Raphinha set his eyes on the target. His deliberate pause wrongfooted Vicente Guaita and he calmly slotted his finish into the bottom corner to lift Leeds out of the drop zone.
Stunning opener at Watford
The Whites travelled to Vicarage Road looking to build on a run of three matches without defeat (W2 D1). Just three points separated them from the relegation zone with just six games remaining but Raphinha calmed the nerves with another stunning strike to open the scoring for the Whites.
Goals from Rodrigo and Harrison secured a 3-0 win against Watford and the result would prove even more important come the end of the season.
Final day survival
Raphinha saved one of his most important contributions in a Leeds shirt for what proved to be his final match. They went into the final day of the 2021-22 season with their fate in their own hands as they travelled to a Brentford side that had impressed in their debut season in the Premier League.
He won the spot kick when he was tripped by the trailing leg of David Raya and emphatically lifted the ball into the top corner after fooling the Brentford goalkeeper with another of his characteristic feints.
Although Brentford would draw level through Sergi Canos, Harrison found the winner in the dying stages to make sure of Leeds’ safety, as euphoria ensued in the away end.
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