Real Madrid News
Thibaut Courtois praises Barcelona superstar ahead of El Clasico: ‘I like him a lot’
It is not often that you see a Real Madrid superstar wax lyrical about a Barcelona counterpart, but when it happens, you know it is significant.
Thibaut Courtois has delivered some significant praise for Raphinha, admitting that the Barcelona attacker remains underappreciated despite his enormous influence.
Courtois impressed by Raphinha
Speaking with Onda Cero, as quoted by Diario AS, Courtois singled out Raphinha when discussing Barça and the threats Madrid will have to deal with in the upcoming Clasico.
“I like Raphinha a lot; he’s key to his team and scores lots of goals,” Courtois said.
“He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.”
Raphinha’s evolution as a footballer has been incredible to watch. He has become much more than the hard-working winger Barça initially signed.
Under Hansi Flick, his pressing, movement and ability to attack central areas have transformed him into one of the team’s most decisive forwards.
Real Madrid already thinking about Raphinha
Courtois also made it clear that Madrid know exactly how dangerous he can be when the two rivals meet.
“A month from now we will have to find a way to stop him,” the Belgian added.
Raphinha has reached the point where an opponent like Madrid cannot simply prepare for Barcelona collectively.
His individual ability and goalscoring threat need special attention, and Courtois is not shying away from it.
Recognition coming late is better than none at all
There has often been a strange gap between Raphinha’s production and the wider recognition he receives.
Players with more glamorous reputations can dominate the conversation, but his importance to Flick’s Barcelona is difficult to dispute.
However, his unprecedented start to the season, where he has either scored or assisted in every game for club and country so far, has made people sit up and take notice.
His ability to press relentlessly while still delivering goals makes him particularly awkward for Madrid. They cannot afford to give him space, nor can they sit back and let him have the ball.
Courtois may admire the Barça man, but Madrid must focus on themselves
For all of Courtois’ warm words about the Barça man, when the Clasico comes around next month, Madrid’s focus must be on themselves.
Real Madrid cannot afford to admire Barcelona’s start to the season. The onus is now on them to close the six-point gap.
As good as Raphinha or Barça can be, Madrid are a level above everyone else when they play their best game.
When El Clasico comes around, that is exactly what Los Blancos need to do, and it remains to be seen how the battle between Jose Mourinho and Hansi Flick plays out.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
