"The best any fan could realistically hope for was that Raphinha would stay until after the World Cup. Seven of them contributed to earning 15 points in a campaign which saw the Whites' survival go to the wire. "What is undeniable is that he was essential to the club's survival last season because in the absence of the injured Bamford he was relied upon to be the top scorer with 11 goals. "His desire to win was insatiable but he was prone to bouts of petulance which at times angered fans," Pope said. Raphinha created 129 league chances for his team-mates in those two years. Only three players - Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin, Wolves' Adama Traore and Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha - went on more runs than Raphinha's 286 - although seven players had more successful dribbles than his 118. Only Southampton's James Ward-Prowse - with nine - managed more in those two seasons. Seven of Raphinha's Premier League goals came from outside the box. "I think he has been one of the greatest additions to the Premier League, let alone Leeds United, this century."
"If he was not ending Gary Cahill's career with a spinning backheeled nutmeg, then he was dropping his shoulder, leaving defenders in his wake or goalkeepers transfixed as the ice coursed through his veins on a stuttering run-up before inevitably converting a penalty.
"The guy was 'out-of-your-seat' box-office," said Adam Pope, who covers the club for BBC Radio Leeds. Raphinha scored 17 goals - a total bettered at the club only by Patrick Bamford's 19 - and created 12, more than any of his team-mates. He was involved in 28% of Leeds' league goals during his two seasons, more than any of his team-mates. He cost United £17m from Rennes following their promotion to the Premier League in 2020. Leeds will need another source of goals now that Raphinha has left.
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