(Credit: Imago, Getty Images)

Jonathan Burnett

Tue 13 May 2025 10:23, UK

Raphinha’s explosion in form for Barcelona this season has coincided with Leeds United’s promotion back to the Premier League.

Leeds have already wrapped up this season’s Championship title with a 100-point, 95-goal haul across their 46 games, and Barcelona are also on course to achieve an historic, successful campaign in La Liga.

Barcelona‘s 4-3 win over Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico puts them seven points clear at the summit with just three games left to play, after a first-half comeback from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 before the break.

Kylian Mbappe‘s hat-trick ultimately counted for nothing as Raphinha netted twice within 11 minutes to put Barcelona in control, and that brace made it 34 goals and 25 assists in all competitions for the Brazilian.

Ferran Torres sends ‘love’ message to Raphinha after El Clasico

Raphinha’s two previous seasons in Catalonia have been overshadowed by near-constant reports of a return to the Premier League, but the ex-Leeds winger has instead taken his performances to the next level.

The 28-year-old rejected a £90million move to the Saudi Pro League last summer and could rack up over 60 goal contributions before the end of this season, and Barcelona have now matched Leeds’ tally of 95.

After Raphinha’s brace against Madrid, former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres sent him a message on Instagram, in a post which was liked by another former Barca player in the form of Leeds‘ Junior Firpo.

Firpo left Catalonia for Elland Road and played alongside Raphinha before his switch the other way 12 months later, and Torres moved to Camp Nou in between during the January 2022 transfer window.

Torres’ message to Raphinha said; “Happy day!!! I love you, brother”, to which Raphinha replied: “And I love you”.

Junior Firpo destined for Leeds United exit

Although Raphinha and Firpo‘s spells in West Yorkshire only overlapped for a season, both became cult heroes for their performances in a Leeds shirt even if the latter’s status only emerged in the Championship.

However, after his four goals and 10 assists have helped steer the Whites to promotion, the out-of-contract Firpo looks set to join Raphinha and Torres in Spain once again, with a return to Real Betis now on the cards.

Former Peacocks keeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider that Leeds plan to replace Firpo as a priority in the summer transfer window, and as the left-back seems set for the exit, the Elland Road faithful will have their eyes on several La Liga matches next season.