Ethan Ampadu shares how Raphinha is viewed at Leeds United five years after his first goal

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu has explained how Raphinha is perceived at the club several years on from his departure for Barcelona.

Five years ago, Leeds were making Premier League survival look easy under legendary former boss Marcelo Bielsa, as they stormed to a ninth-place finish in their first season back.

Current captain Ethan Ampadu is enduring a more difficult return to the top-flight, as his Leeds side prepare for a daunting trip to face Manchester City.

Daniel Farke would surely love to be able to call upon a player with the calibre of Raphinha, who lit up Leeds’ first season back in the top flight, before helping them avoid relegation the following season.

Now, Ampadu has explained why Raphinha is still so highly revered at Leeds, five years on from his first goal for the club.

Ethan Ampadu shares enduring Leeds United love for Raphinha

Speaking to the Premier League YouTube channel in a video in which Ampadu reviews his favourite Leeds goals, the club captain opened up on how Raphinha is viewed at Elland Road today.

According to Ampadu, although he left Leeds after the Brazilian had departed, everyone who knew him during his time with the club still speaks highly of the Barcelona star.

Ampadu said: “You can see what he’s gone on to do and what he’s doing in recent years. It’s pretty special.

“He’s putting up great numbers and great performances. And he was obviously here before I was here. And everyone here speaks so highly of him.

“They can’t, they’ll never say a bad word about him. And that also is represented within the fans. He’s very much loved here. I don’t know him personally, but it’s great to go see him do what he’s doing now.”

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke warned that even a win over Man City may not save his Leeds United job

Raphinha scored his first Leeds United goal on this day in 2020

Raphinha has to go down as one of the best Leeds signings of recent times, having joined the club for a bargain fee of £18 million from French side Stade Rennais.

The talented winger wasted little time in making his mark for Leeds, scoring his first goal on this day in 2020, as he scored in his fifth Leeds appearance in an away win over Everton.

It was a vintage Raphinha goal, as he received the ball some way from goal, dummied to pass, before rifling the ball left-footed past a despairing dive from Jordan Pickford.

Raphinha’s time at Leeds provided a showreel of incredible moments. With Leeds firmly ensconced in the bottom three, Farke needs to find his own hero to inspire his side’s survival bid.