Eddie Gray has claimed that Raphinha can ‘turn a game in ten seconds’ for Leeds United, as he told the club’s official podcast.
The Elland Road legend stated that Raphinha is a ‘bonus’ for Leeds and a reason why the club will be okay if he stays fit.
Raphinha scored last time out when Leeds beat bottom-of-the-table Norwich City 2-1 at Carrow Road.
When the Brazil star, Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford are all in the XI, then it does make the Leeds fans less nervous and more hopeful that they can win games on a regular basis.
It could be argued that the light-footed trickster is fast becoming Leeds’ most important player, it’s probably a toss-up between him and Phillips.
Either way, Gray likes what he sees from Raphinha, as he praised him for the impact he has on the side.
“You always have a chance of winning a game when you have Raphinha playing,” said Gray.
“He can turn a game in ten seconds, which he did (against Norwich). He took his goal wonderfully well.
“So, that’s a bonus for us. The rest of the players, when you get into a game and you have a player like that, you know if you keep it tight and you don’t concede, then you always have a chance of winning the game if you have somebody like Raphinha in your side.
“So, he’s in great form, I feel. He’s a big plus for the team. He’s scoring goals. He creates problems for the opposition. As long as he stays fit, then we will be okay.”
It’s not only on the domestic circuit that Raphinha is thriving because he is now showcasing his worth for his country.
He recently earned his first set of Brazil caps, and already, the winger has got goals and assists to his name.
When you are drawing attention and praise from the likes of Ronaldinho, then you know that you are doing something seriously right.
Either way, the faster Raphinha continues to rise, the more the argument pushes towards the possibility that he has been Marcelo Bielsa’s best signing.
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