Kalvin Phillips blown away as Raphinha shines on Brazil debut
Leeds United ace Raphinha made his international debut for Brazil against Venezuela in the early hours of Friday, and he had an impact on the game.
The 24-year-old winger came off the bench with his side trailing by a goal, and he helped inspire them to a 3-1 victory that moved them closer to World Cup qualification.
Raphinha opened up space and hit the corner that led to Marquinhos’ equaliser and also set up Anthony to tap home the third goal just before the final whistle.
As expected, the Whites ace is delighted with how his maiden game for Brazil went, taking to his personal Instagram account to react.
His teammate Kalvin Phillips was pleased too, reacting thus.
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Raphinha recorded a 91% pass accuracy, made 35 touches and was electric all game.
Tite would have been wondering why he did not call up the Leeds ace for summer’s Copa America as he would have made a lot of difference.
He finished last term with six Premier League goals and nine assists in 30 games, and that is a massive return for someone in his first season in the English top-flight.
Raphinha has resumed from where he stopped last term, scoring thrice in seven league appearances, and he definitely deserves to be playing regularly for his country.
His performance against Venezuela blew everyone away, and Leeds should be proud of themselves.
Marcelo Bielsa has turned the winger into one of the best attackers in the Premier League in such a short while, and there is still much more to come from him.
In other Leeds United news, Watford ace was blown away by thing of beauty he noticed before Whites clash.