Prologue:
As the summer transfer season heats up and the market shifts, there are always a few talking points that attract attention. Whether or not Lewin extends his Bayern contract, Crowe despairs of Manchester United's transfer approach and puts in an application to leave the club, and whether or not De Jong can reunite with Ten Hag at Manchester United ...... For onlookers, there are fresh topics to be unearthed on a daily basis. However, while enjoying the gossip, there is one Brazilian starlet whose name deserves to be remembered as a favorite to become the world's best RWF in the near future, if not now.
Known as Raphinha in Portuguese.
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A great deal of data will be cited in this paper, but it is important to note that data is not the only measure of a player's merit due to differences in factors such as league strength, coaching styles, and player roles.
Sources of information:
Scouting Perspectives
Simple and efficient kicking style
When people think of Brazilian soccer, Neymar or Coutinho, who used to play for Liverpool, come to mind first. With their skill, they make brilliant breakthroughs and passes over and over again; or they slow down their feet and wait for their teammates to come forward, and then use their excellent passing vision to create threats and attack the opponent's defense.
However, these traits don't seem to be as evident in Raphinha as they are in Neymar and Coutinho, aside from excellent passing vision and creativity.
The author of this article believes that Raphinha's style of play is more direct and fluid.
He specializes in crisp, clean breaks down the wing using his dribbling and instant explosiveness. During his time at Leeds United, thanks to Bielsa's tactical system, the right-hand side of Raphinha's game was crucial for both counter-attacks and forward attacks, which led to him averaging 4.5 disposals per game that season, with a success rate of 2.6 (57.78%).
Threats from the right
creativity on the sidelines
One of the main reasons why major giants favor Raphinha. He creates 0.21 xA (excluding assists), 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes, and 5.22 in the progressive passes statistic, which is already a leader compared to players in his position, and even comparable to other team's leading attacking midfielders.
The ability to shoot from distance is also a major reason why opponents must guard against Raphinha. This season, Raphinha has averaged 2.5 shots per 90 minutes, 1.4 of which have been from outside the box. In two Premier League seasons, 20-22, only Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse (9) has scored twice more than the Brazilian (7) from outside the box. (Of course, JWP's free-kick prowess is truly remarkable.)
