Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has pointed out how good Raphinha is without the ball, as quoted on BBC Sport.
Much has been made about how brilliant Raphinha has been since he moved to Leeds from Rennes in the summer of 2020.
The Brazilian winger has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and has established himself as a big player in head coach Marcelo Bielsa’s team.
According to WhoScored, Raphinha has made 18 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League for Leeds so far this season, scoring five goals and providing five assists in the process.
Defender Ayling has raved about the Brazilian winger, and he has noted how good he is without the ball.
Ayling told BBC Sport about Raphinha: “He’s done unbelievable to come in and start under the boss, because it’s hard. It usually takes players a few months to get up to pace.
“The work-rate off the ball is just unbelievable. If he gives it away then you watch how he sprints and gets it back straight away. I’m lucky I get to play behind him.”
Encouraging
It is not easy for any player to play the way Bielsa wants his teams to play, and not many will have expected Raphinha to make such an impact so quickly.
Bielsa himself has praised the winger and has suggested that he is a complete footballer. It is very encouraging for Leeds fans that the 24-year-old work hards for the team and creates chances.
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