"I have had many reasons to give up"

Raphinha, who has been Barcelona's big name at the start of the season, explained how mentally demanding the pressure of football is: "If you work hard and you want to have a football career, you don't have to give up.

"I have had many reasons to give up, put football aside and get on with my life. It's a profession that destroys you. I've had times when I'd get home and I didn't know if I'd get up in the morning to come and train again.

"I have cried a lot. I do psychological work because I have seen that it is very important. Everyone should do it because it helps a lot. If you don't take care of yourself, football destroys you. It's very easy to get into a depression and give it all up," he claimed.

The Brazilian also spoke about his new coach Hansi Flick's training: "Everyone has a different way of doing the job. Xavi had one way of thinking, focusing on the ball. Hansi has another and he thinks the physicality will help us more.

"The minimum goal is to win the Champions League. This has to be it. Playing for Barcelona makes the main objective to win all the titles. If you're at a club like this and you don't think about that, you're in the wrong place," he added.

 

September 3, 2024