Raphinha has opened up on the disrespect he faced from Barcelona fans in the summer who wanted him to be sold in the summer.
The Brazilian winger was furious with the club fans in the summer as they photoshopped his jersey on Athletic Bilbao player Nico Williams and expressed their desire to see the Spaniard replace him in the team.
Raphinha claimed that it was disrespectful towards him, and it motivated to him to do better.
“It was a joke in bad taste. People should respect the club’s players. Seeing a photo like this did not sit well with me,” he said on Alberto Hernández’s YouTube channel.
“It was a lack of respect towards my work. It didn’t influence my start, but I am motivated, I have two years left on my contract.
“I started knowing that I had to adapt to other positions and a different way of playing, but I give my best. If I was working at 100 percent, now I give 200 percent.”
Raphinha has been in fine form this season and has scored six goals and provided eight assists in 11 LaLiga games.
He has four goals and an assist in three UEFA Champions League matches and has become a key part of Hansi Flick’s plans.
The former Leeds star admitted that he has a lot to achieve at Barcelona, adding that it changed his mind and he wanted prove that he has the quality to do well at the club.
“Now that you’re reading things, it’s impossible not to have it in your head. I won’t be anywhere I’m not wanted. It’s been clear to me since I played on the street.
“I want to be where I am wanted. This summer there were many clubs that liked me, and I received messages from other clubs and from Barça supporters. It was especially difficult after the Copa América.
“I remember that I was on holiday and resting. Then it was announced that they wanted to sell me, and you feel like a commodity. We have feelings. Many times we hear things and it affects us. I thought about leaving.
“One day my wife and I talked through all the options and we talked about everything I could do here, there was a lot to do at Barça – and I had several years left on my contract. We had that in mind. We knew what we could do. I wanted to show the people who didn’t believe me.”
