Crysencio Summerville shares what playing alongside Raphinha at Leeds was really like

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Crysencio Summerville has shared how he learned a lot playing alongside Raphinha but is now forging his own path at Leeds United.

Raphinha spent two years at Elland Road during Leeds’ time in the Premier League and was arguably the best player the club has seen since their last spell in England’s top-flight.

His form at Leeds earned him a move to Barcelona and prompted Summerville to take the number 10 shirt that was vacated by Raphinha, as he looked to follow in his footsteps.

Summerville showed signs of doing so at times last season as he netted four goals, but in the Championship this year, he has established himself as Leeds’ main man.

Speaking in an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Summerville spoke of how much he enjoyed playing alongside the Brazilian, but is now glad he has become one of Leeds’ key players.

Summerville following in Raphinha footsteps

Raphinha almost single-handedly saved Leeds from relegation in the 2021/22 campaign, and while the same cannot be said for Summerville being a one-man band this season, it was always his aim to follow in his footsteps.

“I think my time with Raphinha was very good, I learned a lot from him, but everything comes to an end. I wanted to be a key player this year and to get Leeds United promoted.

“Everything is going well with me and the team. I can say the togetherness right now is unbelievably good and the competition for places is very good, it’s very healthy. We’ve got one goal and that’s getting promoted.”

It was a brave decision for Summerville to come and take the number 10 shirt in the summer of 2022 considering his lack of first team football, but there is nobody better who could’ve done so.

Summerville, all be it in a lower league, is enjoying an individual season similar to that of Raphinha’s in the Premier League, with eight goals and six assists already.

The 22-year-old is too much to handle for the majority of defences in this league, and that is reflected by the awards he has won, and the numbers he has produced.