Former Leeds coach reveals secrets behind Raphinha’s rise at Barcelona

Alejandro Lorenzo, former fitness coach at Leeds United, has shared insights from his time working with Brazilian star Raphinha, revealing that the player had always dreamed of joining Barcelona since his early days in England.

Lorenzo, who now works at Celtic, explained that he worked with Raphinha for over four years following his move to Leeds from Rennes in 2020. He noted that their relationship grew closer during physical training sessions, leading to a strong friendship between them.

Lorenzo added that Raphinha was a hardworking and humble player with a clear vision for his professional future, highlighting that he always aspired to play for Barcelona due to his admiration for Ronaldinho.

Details of his rise and performance development

Lorenzo pointed out that Raphinha demonstrated exceptional abilities from the moment he arrived in England, excelling in both physical and technical training. He recalled that during one of the final drills, Raphinha scored 19 out of 20 shots into the top corner, impressing the coaching staff.

Lorenzo noted that Raphinha is highly agile and has excellent ball control, emphasizing that coach Hansi Flick has successfully utilized his skills to fill the gap left by Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, with Raphinha shifting from winger to a central striker role.

In the same context, Raphinha currently leads the La Liga scoring charts with 12 goals, five ahead of his nearest rival, reflecting his ability to adapt and excel in different positions.

Professional commitment and global recognition

Lorenzo also highlighted Raphinha’s professional dedication, noting that the player set up a private training room at his home while at Leeds to focus on physical recovery and address nutrition issues. He described Raphinha as a model of professionalism and a constant desire for improvement.

Lorenzo expressed surprise at Raphinha’s absence from the Ballon d’Or shortlist, despite the player’s continued improvement season after season, stressing that this does not affect Raphinha but instead motivates him to shine even more.