Raphinha has picked a combined XI of players he has played with that does not include anyone from Leeds United. The Brazilian spent two seasons at Elland Road between 2020 and 2022, establishing himself very much as the star of the club.
He helped the club to a ninth place finish in his first year at Leeds before scoring 11 goals in his second campaign as the Whites narrowly avoided relegation on the final day. That earned Raphinha his dream move to Barcelona in the summer, where he is now regularly playing alongside some of the best players on the planet.
That said, the 25-year-old has included players in his XI as per Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte from all of his other previous clubs, including Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes. In goal, rather unsurprisingly, Raphinha has opted for Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
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In defence, he has opted for Hamari Traore (Rennes), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jeremy Mathieu (Sporting Club de Portugal) and Marcos Acuna (Sporting Club de Portugal). Given Leeds' defensive record in the Premier League, as well as the exclusion of the likes of Jules Kounde and Jordi Alba, it is probably fair that no one from the Whites makes it into the back four.
Kalvin Phillips has arguably the best case to make it into Raphinha's side, though that is until you consider Sergio Busquets is the man chosen in his position. Bruno Fernandes and Wendel - both Sporting Club de Portugal - are both also chosen ahead Barcelona stars such as Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, showing the vast array of talent he has played with.
Given how close he also was with Rodrigo Moreno off the pitch at Leeds, he may have had a temptation to include him, though Robert Lewandowski is his number nine, and there is no argument there. Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) and Tiquinho Soares (Vitoria) make up the remainder of the team.
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