Rafinha Alcantara

[KingMessi]

In terms of the Thiago vs. Rafinha thing, both are really good prospects. Rafa has more physicality to his game, whereas Thiago has more finesse. And Thiago can't seem to get over his injury woes either.

For the record, Thiago and Mazinho have both said that Rafa is the bigger talent between the two. But we'll see in the future, which of the brothers becomes the better player.

 

[DinhoR10]

In terms of the Thiago vs. Rafinha thing, both are really good prospects. Rafa has more physicality to his game, whereas Thiago has more finesse. And Thiago can't seem to get over his injury woes either.

For the record, Thiago and Mazinho have both said that Rafa is the bigger talent between the two. But we'll see in the future, which of the brothers becomes the better player.

Yeah that seems to be the biggest difference between them, although he doesnt do step overs and zidane turns I see rafinha go past more players than thiago does. Like today for instance three surrounding him then he beat two on the line and got his pass off iniesta style. I still don't know what Lucho plans for him though, back in celta he said his best position is CM but he's had him in False 9/ False 7 (i say false cause i think he plays like iniesta on the wing) the entire pre season. Maybe Lucho rates Roberto in cm better than rafinha? Or maybe he's just experimenting? idk

 

[KingMessi]

I think Lucho is just tinkering to be honest.

 

[DinhoR10]

I think Lucho is just tinkering to be honest.

I hope so, he's good on the wing for sure but honestly I think like iniesta he needs to be in the midfield, he has too much creativity and vision to only be dribbling down the line.

 

[Richard.H]

Yeah that seems to be the biggest difference between them, although he doesnt do step overs and zidane turns I see rafinha go past more players than thiago does. Like today for instance three surrounding him then he beat two on the line and got his pass off iniesta style. I still don't know what Lucho plans for him though, back in celta he said his best position is CM but he's had him in False 9/ False 7 (i say false cause i think he plays like iniesta on the wing) the entire pre season. Maybe Lucho rates Roberto in cm better than rafinha? Or maybe he's just experimenting? idk

No way mate, absolutely no way. I hate to say it but S.Roberto is not that great of a player. There's no way Lucho can rate S.Roberto higher than Rafinha in ANY position.

 

[DinhoR10]

No way mate, absolutely no way. I hate to say it but S.Roberto is not that great of a player. There's no way Lucho can rate S.Roberto higher than Rafinha in ANY position.

Thats why I find it weird that Sergi has gotten all the time in midfield. Short passing Sergi is probably better but Rafinha is way more creative and better in basically everything else.

 

[JamDav1982]

Thats why I find it weird that Sergi has gotten all the time in midfield. Short passing Sergi is probably better but Rafinha is way more creative and better in basically everything else.

It may be Lucho sees Rafinha as being used on the right hand side more than in central midfield and wants him to get used to playing out there and to see how he performs in the system.

If that is what he is thinking then to play him in middle and therefor not see Roberto or Rafinha in position is pointless. Even if Rafinha is the better CM/AM.

He was used a lot on the right hand side for Celta last season.

 

[DinhoR10]

It may be Lucho sees Rafinha as being used on the right hand side more than in central midfield and wants him to get used to playing out there and to see how he performs in the system.

If that is what he is thinking then to play him in middle and therefor not see Roberto or Rafinha in position is pointless. Even if Rafinha is the better CM/AM.

He was used a lot on the right hand side for Celta last season.

Yeah makes sense since the midfield in pretty packed with iniesta rakitic Xavi and Roberto. And rafinha is the only left footed winger other than messi so he provides tactical variety. We'll see how thugs turn out I suppose. I've already read articles about how in a few years he might be the cm Brazil have been needing with creativity and physicality. So I hope him being a winger doesn't affect his nt progress.

 

[Jadentheman]

The good news is that playing with Alves and Neymar will put him closer to the NT then ever before.

 

[Ini8]

The good news is that playing with Alves and Neymar will put him closer to the NT then ever before.

True, but you never know what Dunga might think.

 

[Behrox]

In terms of the Thiago vs. Rafinha thing, both are really good prospects. Rafa has more physicality to his game, whereas Thiago has more finesse. And Thiago can't seem to get over his injury woes either.

For the record, Thiago and Mazinho have both said that Rafa is the bigger talent between the two. But we'll see in the future, which of the brothers becomes the better player.

Another plus side to Rafa's game opposed to Thiago is that he doesn't lose the ball nearly as much as Thiago did. Thiago was too flashy for a Barca CM, he was more like Ronnie in that regard but with a lot less Ronaldinihoness

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

I think Thiago improved in that regard. Last season almost all his passes were successful.

 

[te amo barca]

Dat moment when he dribbled past 4 players was awesome

 

[NotInHere]

The flashes that he has shown are really promising, he can only improve from now on since his a pretty young guy. We are so fortunate to have these gems under our sleeve, and even if they don't end up being stars, which teams can say they have a deu, adama, munir and rafihna?

 

[DinhoR10]

Called up for Brazil u21 hope he impresses. Does anyone know what positions he's played in the matches he was in before?