Raphinha Reveals What He Told the Referee About Sevilla's Physical Approach

Raphinha's influence at Barcelona is extending well beyond his goals and assists. The Brazilian has increasingly taken on a leadership role, and that was evident during Barça's recent victory over Sevilla.

Barcelona entered the international break with seven consecutive La Liga victories, with Raphinha playing a major role in their impressive run.

The forward has been in outstanding form and has developed a strong attacking connection with Lamine Yamal and Fermín López. However, his actions against Sevilla showed another side of his game.

Raphinha Asked the Referee for More Protection

DAZN has released footage recorded by referee José María Martínez Munuera during Barcelona's match against Sevilla, providing insight into conversations that took place on the pitch.

Raphinha repeatedly approached the referee to complain about Sevilla's physical approach and urged him to intervene before the situation became more serious.

At one point, the Barcelona captain warned Munuera:

“They're going to break our backs.”

Raphinha then asked the referee to pay closer attention to Sevilla's screens and holding, arguing that calling a couple of fouls early could discourage the behaviour.

His comments highlighted how closely he was monitoring the physical battle and showed his willingness to speak up for his teammates.

Referee Steps In During Raphinha-Fofana Clash

Raphinha also became involved in a confrontation with Sevilla defender Fofana while the players were disputing a free kick.

The situation escalated into a brief exchange before Munuera stepped in to calm things down.

The referee told both players:

“Both of you, he grabs and you do too. That's not football, that's called judo.”

The exchange offered another glimpse into the intensity of the contest and Raphinha's increasingly prominent role within the Barcelona side.

Raphinha's Leadership Continues to Grow

The Brazilian has embraced his responsibilities as Barcelona's first captain and has become one of the most influential figures in Hansi Flick's squad.

His importance is also reflected in his workload. Raphinha has played more minutes than any other Barcelona outfield player this season and has continued to produce at an extraordinary rate.

He has scored 14 goals in eight appearances, making him one of the team's most decisive attacking players.

Barcelona will now hope their captain returns from international duty without any fitness problems. Raphinha faces a demanding trip to Australia with Brazil, involving around 34,000 kilometres of travel for a series of friendly matches.

Flick will be eager to have his captain back fit and ready when club football resumes.