Barcelona’s Raphinha has explained the altercation that occurred in the tunnel following his side’s dramatic 5-4 Champions League win over Benfica.
The match had seen Barcelona recover from 3-1 and 4-2 deficits, with Raphinha scoring the decisive goal in the 96th minute.
After the final whistle, tensions flared, and a fight broke out between the two teams.
Police were reportedly involved, with Raphinha escorted away from the scene and blocked from accessing Barcelona’s changing room.
In a live interview with CBS Sports, Raphinha offered his perspective on the incident.
“When I was leaving the pitch, people were insulting me. I returned the insults. I know I shouldn’t, but it got heated with the Benfica players… they preferred to insult me,” Raphinha stated,
The Brazilian emphasized that he respects others as long as they respect him, but he doesn’t tolerate insults.
He acknowledged that such heated exchanges were typical after a match with such dramatic stakes.
On a positive note, Raphinha reflected on his exceptional form this season.
He had scored two goals in the match, one of which was a remarkable header from 20 yards.
With 33 goal contributions already, this has been his most productive campaign, making him an outside contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
His impressive performances have been a key part of Barcelona’s success in the 2024/2025 season.
This article was updated 3 weeks ago
