What a signing Raphinha is proving to be for Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa welcomed the 24-year-old to Elland Road last summer and the Brazilian seems to be getting better and better.
Earlier this week, Raphinha scored a stunning free kick as Leeds thumped Southampton 3-0 in West Yorkshire.
This came a few weeks after a glittering performance against Crystal Palace, in which he made a mug of a Premier League veteran like Gary Cahill with the sort of skill that Brazilians are noted for.
There’s no doubt that the Whites have a supremely-talented footballer on their hands – but it’s his work rate which has really caught the eye of Tim Sherwood.
He said on Premier League TV: “He has got real guile. When I watch him off the ball, his workload is incredible. He gets back in, gets around, does defensive work, makes unselfish runs like we highlighted for the second goal and he is getting the ball because they know they can trust him in tight areas.”
Indeed, Raphinha seems to relish the nitty and gritty side of football.
With his ability on the ball and his industry off it, it looks like the former Sporting attacker has all the qualities needed to be a huge hit among Leeds fans.
And working under a coach like Bielsa, he’s only going to get better.
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