Pundit reveals where Raphinha is better than Messi after Keane’s Leeds claim
Noel Whelan has doubled down on Roy Keane’s praise for Leeds United winger Raphinha.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the Whites ambassador is in awe of the 24-year-old’s rare willingness to track back and defend as a technical player.
As quoted by Leeds Live, Roy Keane compared Raphinha to Cristiano Ronaldo when speaking on Sky Sports after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley.
The ex-Man United captain lauded the Leeds winger’s work rate and claimed he would not be in Marcelo Bielsa’s side without it.
Whelan is adamant that neither Lionel Messi or Ronaldo works as hard as Raphinha out of possession.
“It is an aspect of his game that goes unnoticed by some,” he told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
“Raphinha is fantastic on the ball, great on the eye and can produce moments of magic that other players simply can’t.
“But what I really like is his work out of possession. He is not afraid to really work hard, track back and double-up with the full-back. It is an attribute you sometimes don’t get with technically talented players. They do one side of it but not the other. That is not the case with Raphinha though.
“When I watch him he is relentless. He works his socks off. You would not see Messi doing that and you would not even see Ronaldo doing it anymore.
“A high work rate is what Marcelo Bielsa demands though so you would not get away with that.”
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