Speaking to FourFourTwo (May 2021 edition, page 62), Raphinha has opened up on how much Helder Costa and Rodrigo helped him settle in at Leeds United.
The Brazilian winger didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in West Yorkshire, but luckily, he had two teammates who could speak Portuguese in the shape of Rodrigo and Costa.
Raphinha says the pair were crucial to him adjusting to life in a new country and that he’ll be forever grateful for their help.
‘I admit that I didn’t speak a word of English before coming here, so you can imagine the importance of having Helder and Rodrigo in the dressing room. They were crucial for me when I first arrived at Leeds. If I was going to adapt quickly to life in England they were pivotal to making it happen. I’ll be forever grateful for what they’ve done for me. They’re more than teammates. They’re my brothers,” Raphinha said.
Raphinha has been one of the stars of the season, but it seems as though he wouldn’t have been so brilliant if it weren’t for Costa and Rodrigo.
Costa and Rodrigo look as though they were the perfect welcoming committee for Raphinha at Leeds, and that’s allowed him to flourish on the pitch.
Fingers crossed we can continue to see Raphinha starring at Elland Road for years to come and that he only continues to grow more and more comfortable with his surroundings.
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