Raphinha on difficult childhood: I lost friends to drug trafficking
The Barça star has written an article for UOL on his life and career
Raphinha is fulfilling a dream at Barcelona. A dream that he has had to work hard for, overcoming difficult times during his childhood and avoiding temptations and options that could have derailed his career. The kid from Porto Alegre, brought up in the humble suburb of La Restinga, has written an article for UOL Esporte explaining his life. And telling things as interesting as they are heartbreaking.
"I lost a lot of friends to the world of crime, drug trafficking... Friends that were 10 times better than me and could have played for a great football club," he explains. And he adds that "to have these examples close was an important factor in maintaining my focus. I knew what I wanted to be from very young: a footballer. Achieving that objective by leaving the neighbourhood is a big sacrifice. But my ambition was bigger. I did not get diverted. If now they speak about my 'magic' in football, I say... this is the real magic."
Raphinha continues: "It would be unfair to say I was ever starved in my life because my parents never lacked food at home. But still, after training, I stopped on the street and asked people if they could buy me something to eat or drink. Some helped me, others bluntly called me a tramp. There was nothing else to do, just wait for the bus to arrive to take me home to be able to eat something. I was between 12 and 14 at the time."
LEAVING RENNES FOR LEEDS
On one of the biggest decisions of his life, moving to the Premier League, the forward comments that "the most significant and important chapter (of my career) was the decision to leave France (Rennes) for England (Leeds United). It was difficult to leave like that, but... it was the Premier League, the competition with so many stars that I always followed with wonder. It was a dream to play there.
"I had a lot of offers after my spell with Leeds, but I knew exactly what I wanted. My idols growing up played for Barcelona, so my dream was to come here and I spared no expense to make it happen."
