There aren’t many players in the Leeds United squad who could match the composure Raphinha showed in the fourth minute of stoppage time to lay it on a plate for Joe Gelhardt against Norwich City. It would have been very easy for the Brazilian to panic and try score from the narrow angle after rounding Tim Krul.
Thankfully for Leeds, though, it was the right man in the right place as the Whites ended a run of six consecutive defeats with that dramatic late win over Norwich. Raphinha ’s major contribution came at arguably the best possible time for him, with his recent below-par performances causing some fans to question his commitment to the club with links to the likes of Barcelona and Liverpool continuing to surface.
However, at the weekend, not only will his excellent display have put to bed those murmurs of discontent, but also an unseen gesture he did in the tunnel prior to kick off that has recently surfaced on social media. .As both sides began to walk out on the pitch, Raphinha was seen tapping the Leeds badge that was next to him on the wall.
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While it doesn’t on the face of it look anything major, when you consider how iconic it is for Liverpool players to touch the ‘This is Anfield’ sign in the tunnel before the match as they enter the field of play, this could be the 25-year-old’s way of replicating that. His gesture, coupled with the way he celebrated the win after the match, shows just how much Raphinha does care about the club.
Speculation regarding his future will no doubt persist between now and the end of the season, but one thing is for sure – Raphinha will not be throwing the towel in and his effort levels will always remain at 100%.
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