Leeds player called “reference Raphinha to ask him to use his number 10”

raphinha He became a regular starter for Barça, who again captured the Liga title four years later, but what He was unable to establish himself as an undisputed player for culé fans, despite his 10 goals and 12 assists.. that’s it The near-holy role kept it at his previous club, Leeds United, which he sold to FC Barcelona in the summer of 2002 in exchange for 57 million fixed euros and another eight in variables. The last image they had of Raphinha at Elland Road was of the Brazilian international winger kneeling across the pitch after securing their Premier League stay by converting a decisive penalty. That’s not Leeds’ luck this season: they’re back after three years in the Championship, the second English division. The symbolic number left by Raphinha at Leeds is 10. Curiously, it was inherited by a young Dutch winger who continues to use the Catalan as a reference, whom he called to ask permission to wear the 10 left by the culé without an owner .

Educated talent responds to the name of Crycensio Summerville. In the summer of 2020, he left Feyenoord Rotterdam and signed for the promises of Leeds United in exchange for 1.5 million euros. In a story collected by Voetbal, Summerville explained how his special admiration for Raphinha grew, going so far as to ask him for permission to wear his Leeds number 10 shirt when the Brazilian signed for Barça until 2027.

‘Raphinha came before me, a very good player. The more I trained with the first team, the more I got to know him, with guys like Kalvin Phillips or Dan James. They really want to help me, even though I have a special relationship with Raphinha. We talk. I paid attention to his way of playing and looked at additional pictures.”revealed.

“And one day I told him: if you leave here, I will follow in your footsteps and get your number. so cwhen he went to Barcelona, ​​I sent him a message. I asked him if I could use his jersey number.”. And he continued: What was his response? “Yes yes yes! Of course you can. I hope you do your best, ‘Cry¡’. You got it,” he revealed regarding Raphinha’s words, designating him his dolphin on Elland Road.

Summerville’s five goals and six assists this season did not, however, prevent the team from relegation. Nor were they Raphinmha’s eleven goals in his last campaign at Leeds, but the former Feyenoord youth squad, who arrived at Elland Road after becoming European under-17 champions in 2018 with the Netherlands of Brobbey, Gravenberch and Timber has a contract until 2026 and time to grow up.

Leeds’ star signing, Colombian Luis Sinisterra, who came on as Raphinha’s emotional replacement, was unable to escape the relegation trance. He is not yet at cruising speed due to injuries. Sommerville carried a lot of weight, perhaps too much, despite the fact that former Leeds sporting director who had just signed for Sevilla, Víctor Orta, described him as an “exciting talent”. . Perhaps that is why he has been linked in recent times in England with Sevilla. Borussia Dortmund are also helpful in Leeds’ 10.