Raphinha becomes Barcelona's first Brazilian permanent captain in history

Raphinha has been named the permanent captain of Barcelona, marking a historic milestone as the first Brazilian to ever hold the position in the club's 135-year history. The landmark announcement was officially made by manager Hansi Flick on Sunday, September 6, just ahead of the team's highly anticipated fixture against Valencia.

Manager Hansi Flick outlined the new leadership structure for the squad during his pre-match address. Explaining the reasoning behind the prominent appointment, Flick stated that the influence of both Raphinha and Pedri within the team is substantial, noting that they feature in nearly every starting lineup. The German coach emphasized that selecting Raphinha for the armband was an entirely clear and straightforward decision.

Alongside Raphinha's historic appointment, Pedri has been chosen to serve as the senior vice-captain of the Catalan club. The leadership group is further rounded out by Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine Yamal, who completed the five-member new leadership panel after being selected through direct votes cast by the members of the squad.

Raphinha's journey to becoming the permanent captain of Barcelona builds upon a stellar career with the Spanish giants since his arrival. The Brazilian winger originally joined the club in 2022 after transferring from English side Leeds United for a substantial fee of 55 million euros.

Since making his move to Camp Nou, Raphinha has established himself as a vital component of the squad's success. Over the course of his career with the Catalan outfit, he has amassed an impressive record of 160 appearances while finding the back of the net 80 times, ultimately contributing to multiple trophies including three La Liga titles.