Raphinha and Neymar have played together for the Brazil national team, and the Barcelona player recently spoke about the possibility of reuniting at club level as well.
Neymar was one of Barcelona’s biggest stars during a golden era for the Spanish club, when icons like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Andres Iniesta also lit up the Camp Nou. Now, that spotlight belongs to a new generation of players, including Raphinha, who recently revealed an intriguing conversation he had with his Brazil teammate.
“There was a lot of talk about Neymar coming back to Barca,” Raphinha said during an interview with Isabela Pagliari shared on YouTube. “I told him: ‘Come on, you know the club wants you, the fans want you, and everyone would love to have you back.’”
Indeed, the 33-year-old forward left an enduring legacy from his time with the Spanish giants, playing 186 matches between 2013 and 2017, scoring 105 goals and adding 78 assists—an almost one-per-game contribution. During those four seasons, he helped Los Cules win 10 titles, including the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League.
While Raphinha didn’t specify exactly when the conversation took place, the idea of Neymar returning to Barcelona has never gone beyond speculation and hopeful rumors. “In the end, it didn’t depend on me or on him,” Raphinha admitted, making it clear that while Ney was interested, it simply wasn’t enough.
Raphinha and Neymar as teammates
Raphinha and Neymar haven’t spent much time together on the Brazil national team. The Barcelona winger made his debut in 2021, during Tite’s tenure as head coach, when Ney was still the team’s undisputed star. However, Raphinha saw limited action early on and only featured in a handful of matches during his initial stint with the squad.
The only major tournament the two stars played together was the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. By then, Raphinha had cemented his place in the starting lineup and featured in four of the team’s five matches, while Neymar started in three. Despite their efforts, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Croatia.
After the World Cup, both remained involved with the national team until a serious knee injury sidelined Neymar in 2023. He hasn’t played for Brazil since. Raphinha, meanwhile, has stayed with the squad, though his performances—along with those of other top names like Vinicius and Rodrygo—have drawn criticism.
What’s next for Neymar?
Following a disappointing stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal, Neymar returned to Santos this season, 12 years after he first left the club. His initial performances were promising, but injuries quickly returned as a major obstacle.
He played nine matches across the Campeonato Paulista and Brazilian league before suffering back-to-back thigh injuries that forced him out of action. Over the past two months, Ney has logged just 79 minutes, split across two matches against Fluminense and Atletico Mineiro in mid-April.
Given that context, the superstar’s future remains unclear. “It’s a six-month contract that could be extended,” Neymar said when he joined Santos earlier this year. That means he’s under contract with the club through June 30, and once that date arrives, both sides will need to make a decision about what comes next.
From: bolavip.com
