Why Hansi Flick Chose Raphinha to Lead the New-Look Barcelona
Brazilian winger Raphinha has been named the provisional first captain of FC Barcelona for the upcoming 2026/27 season, marking a historic milestone as the first-ever Brazilian player to be appointed primary captain in the club’s history.
Manager Hansi Flick confirmed the decision to official club media following a summer of massive leadership shakeups at Camp Nou.
The vacancy at the top of the hierarchy opened after veteran goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen secured a loan move to Ajax, and Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo departed on loan to Liverpool.
While long-serving midfielder Frenkie de Jong was next in line by traditional seniority, his ongoing recovery from injury prompted Flick to hand the immediate responsibility to the 29-year-old winger.
Flick Confirms Leadership Hierarchy
Flick outlined that the captaincy structure is technically provisional until the summer transfer window closes and the squad finalises an official dressing room vote. However, Raphinha will officially wear the armband and deliver the traditional captain’s pre-match speech to the fans at the Joan Gamper Trophy match.
The interim five-man leadership group stands as follows:
First Captain: Raphinha (Brazil, 29)
Second Captain: Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands, 29)
Third Captain: Pedri (Spain, 23)
Fourth Captain: Gavi (Spain, 22)
Fifth Captain: Eric García (Spain, 25)
A History-Making Transition
Despite a long and legendary lineage of world-class Brazilians wearing the Blaugrana shirt—including Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romário, and Neymar—none ever held the permanent first-captain designation, making Raphinha’s appointment a historic first.
Since arriving from Leeds United in 2022, Raphinha has transformed his reputation from an unstable squad player into the emotional heartbeat of the locker room. His intense work ethic and tactical versatility have made him an indispensable asset and an extension of Flick on the field. He already stepped up as a vocal leader last season when injuries depleted the squad, commanding respect from the team’s younger stars.
With Barcelona finalising high-profile roster additions like Rodri and João Cancelo, Raphinha’s primary focus shifts to driving a revitalised squad toward domestic and European silverware.
