Raphinha looked like a kid at Christmas when he met his boyhood idol Thierry Henry on Monday.
Henry, who won the continental treble with Barcelona in 2009, visited their pre-season training camp in Miami along with Sergio Aguero.
Raphinha wore a wide grin as he greeted the legendary French striker, who he fondly remembers watching on television during his childhood in the Porto Alegre suburb of Restinga.
“I grew up on Thierry Henry’s goals,” the former Leeds winger wrote in The Players’ Tribune in December 2021. “I’d be watching the Prem with my dad on the free-to-air channels. Henry was flying, man. The runs, the finishes, it was crazy!
He continued: “I also remember that the stadiums were always full. The songs, the shouts, the noise. I can’t remember the details, but I was probably sitting in a run-down bar somewhere in Restinga when I made the vow: One day, I’m going to play there.”
Raphinha fulfilled his prophecy of playing in the Premier League after two impressive seasons with Leeds. He now looks forward to the next chapter of his career as he prepares to potentially make Barcelona debut against Inter Miami.
READ ON:
Leeds United's Jean-Kevin Augustin dispute with RB Leipzig raised summer transfer doubts
Patrick Bamford's importance and Jesse Marsch's likely Leeds United starting XI
Leeds United staff feedback impacting Jesse Marsch's pre-season plans and long-term future
Jesse Marsch is shining up Leeds United's next Champions League diamond
