Raphinha's Red-Hot Form Gives Barcelona Little Reason to Regret Missing Out on Julian Alvarez

Posted : 06 November 2026

Barcelona travel to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a crucial La Liga encounter, with Raphinha's outstanding performances as a centre-forward strengthening the belief that the Spanish champions made the right decision after failing to sign Julian Alvarez.

The Brazilian has transformed Barcelona's attack since being moved into a central role by manager Hansi Flick. His impressive goalscoring form has helped the Catalan side overcome the disappointment of missing out on the Atletico striker during the summer transfer window.

Alvarez had been keen to leave Atletico for Barcelona, but the proposed move failed to materialise and created tension between the two clubs. Barcelona were subsequently fined €602 by the Spanish Football Federation after Atletico complained about the way the Catalans approached the Argentine forward. Alvarez later apologised to Atletico supporters in an attempt to repair relations.

Barcelona quickly adapted to the situation, with Raphinha emerging as a productive alternative in attack. The 29-year-old has scored 19 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions this season, making him one of the team's most influential players.

His campaign has not been entirely smooth. After helping Barcelona begin the season with 11 consecutive victories in all competitions, Raphinha struggled during defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. He was still recovering from a thigh injury sustained while representing Brazil in September.

However, the forward has since rediscovered his sharpness, scoring four goals across matches against Alaves and Aston Villa. His performances were followed by the announcement of a contract extension that will keep him at Barcelona until June 2030.

Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022 but initially found it difficult to establish himself under former manager Xavi Hernandez. Flick's arrival in 2024 brought a significant change, with his high-pressing approach allowing the Brazilian to flourish. He has since developed into a key figure in the dressing room and one of the club's captains.

When Flick first asked him to operate as a striker, Raphinha admitted he had concerns about taking on the responsibility previously associated with Robert Lewandowski. He was also uncertain about playing with his back to goal, a requirement of the central position.

Those worries have largely disappeared following his impressive start to the campaign. His finishing ability has made him a major threat, while his performances have helped Barcelona maintain their position among Europe's leading attacking teams.

By comparison, Alvarez has experienced a more difficult period at Atletico. The Argentine initially faced criticism from sections of the club's support after his attempted move to Barcelona, although his performances have improved in recent weeks. He has scored twice in 11 appearances this season.

Sunday's meeting at the Metropolitano presents Raphinha with an opportunity to demonstrate his importance against one of Barcelona's biggest rivals.

The Brazilian missed last season's Champions League quarter-final against Atletico through injury, when Barcelona were eliminated. He will now be central to Flick's plans as the Catalans attempt to avoid another disappointing result against Diego Simeone's side.

The fixture also carries major implications for the La Liga title race. Barcelona lead the standings, with Atletico sitting second just two points behind. A home victory would allow Simeone's team to move ahead of the reigning champions.

With Raphinha back among the goals and committed to Barcelona until 2030, the club will hope his performances can help them maintain their advantage and strengthen their position at the top of the table.

Raphinha's Red-Hot Form Gives Barcelona Little Reason to Regret Missing Out on Julian Alvarez

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