Barcelona star Raphinha made statements following their victory over Elche in yesterday's match within the 2026/27 La Liga season.
Barcelona played their first match of the new La Liga season against Elche, achieving a 5-0 victory.
Raphinha shone in Barcelona's match against Elche, scoring two goals in his first official appearance as the Catalan team's primary captain.
Raphinha said in statements published by the Spanish newspaper "Marca": "Less suffering than expected? Well, it depends on us; if we start at our best, it will be easy. Elche didn't make things easy for us; they are good at possessing the ball, but we played excellently from the beginning."
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He added: "If one team possesses the ball more, the other side will suffer greatly; it has to do with the heat. Ultimately, the result does not reflect the true nature of the match."
When asked whether Barcelona needs a dedicated striker, he replied: "That's up to the president (Joan Laporta), Deco, and the coach. We will do whatever they say with determination. We have sufficient ability to play in any position."
As for whether he sees himself as a dedicated striker, Raphinha dodged the question, replying: "I feel comfortable on the pitch."
Raphinha sparked controversy regarding his celebration of the first goal, which was done in a spider-like manner. Some linked it to Atlético Madrid star Julián Álvarez, who is famous for the "spider" celebration, amid the ongoing dispute surrounding his complicated transfer deal to Camp Nou.
Regarding this, Raphinha said: "My celebration method? It's for my son; he asked me to do it. He is a huge fan of Spider-Man."