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Journalists rave about 'absolutely incredible' Raphinha when they watch Leeds United star live
Other journalists are absolutely blown away when they watch Raphinha play for Leeds United, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
Raphinha, 24, has been in sensational form this season and on Sunday, in the 1-1 draw against Leicester, the Brazilian winger scored his fifth goal of the Premier League season in his 10th game.
His form has understandably led to speculation surrounding his future at Elland Road with TeamTalk reporting that Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs keen on him.
The Athletic’s Leeds correspondent Hay regularly hears praise for Raphinha but noticed that the winger cut a frustrated figure at times at Elland Road on Sunday when he starred against Leicester.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show podcast, the ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist said: “You always get a good hint of this from other journalists you’re sat with and obviously I have a colleague who comes to every game so it was Rob Tanner who was doing Leicester on Sunday.
“All of them sit and say to me – because not many of them have had a chance to see him in the flesh – he looks absolutely incredible. He looks so good.
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“I felt he was the best player on the pitch and when you consider some of the players in the Leicester team, it’s not a given that’s going to be the case. It is a case of now discussing someone who’s falling into the world-class bracket. He does absolutely everything.”
Hay added: “He’s not a showboat though and that’s the thing with Raphinha.
“I was watching him getting quite angry and frustrated at points during Sunday’s game and he is a very, very big competitor.”
He’s perfect
When is the last time Leeds had a player as good as Raphinha? He’s easily the best we’ve had since the early 2000s and even then, the Brazil international would have been able to walk into David O’Leary’s team of modern-day heroes.
Raphinha’s pulling Leeds along with him this season.
He’s averaged a goal every other game in the Premier League and has scored almost half of all goals Leeds have netted in the top-flight.
Patrick Bamford’s injury has led to Raphinha being relied upon more for goals but just imagine how well we can perform once the England striker is back from his injury.
It begs the question about who will be dropped for Bamford.
It’s not going to be Raphinha and it might not be Rodrigo either with Marcelo Bielsa enjoying playing him in the midfield behind the striker.
It’s going to be either Daniel James or Jack Harrison who get left out and between them, they cost Leeds a lot of money in the summer.
Raphinha’s been an absolute steal for Leeds and we really can’t wait to see how he does for the rest of the season.
However, his displays are not going unnoticed by clubs with a lot of money and that’s the big worry we have.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers are unimpressed by one thing behind the scenes at Elland Road.