Following a long saga which resulted in the confirmation of Raphinha’s move from Leeds United to Barcelona, the Catalan media can barely speak about another subject today.
So RAC1 managed to speak to one of the teammates the winger had at the Elland Road side. They had a word with Kiko Casilla to talk about the 25-year-old.
Interviewed by the Tu Dirás show, the goalkeeper recalled the training sessions with Raphinha, claiming the winger was capable of very strong shots in practice at Leeds.
He also praised his free kick skills.
“In training, when he shot, I didn’t get involved,” joked Casilla on RAC1 (via Mundo Deportivo).
“He’s a player who likes to train and practice a lot, and free-kicks are something he works a lot on”
“I think that if he plays like he has done at Leeds and in Brazil, he can be a very important player for Barça”
Raphinha is set to sign a five-year deal with Barcelona, with the Catalan side paying Leeds United an initial amount of €58m plus potential €7m in performance bonuses.
He’s still set to go through medicals, and then will join the Catalan squad in their pre-season in the United States, starting on the 19th of July in Miami.
Casilla, who spent the last season on loan at Spanish side Elche, has his situation at the Whites unclear, and getting likely to leave the club again this summer, although it could be permanent this time around.
