SPORT Exclusive: Rafinha opens up in our interview

Rafinha grew up in Barcelona, but he feels football and life like the people of Rio de Janeiro. When he’s comfortable, he speaks with a big smile on his face. It’s what the Brazilians call ‘alto astral’ - a wave of positivity. He’s contagious. It is perhaps for that reason - and because he’s a born competitor - that he’s been able to overcome a serious injury. It could be for the same reason that he’s one of Luis Enrique’s preferred players. 

One day, speaking with your dad, he told me he never knows if you’re speaking seriously… 

[Smiles]. Yes… I consider myself a really cheerful, jokey type of person. I approach life with a lot of happiness. But when things are serious, logically, I can be a serious person, too. 

In fact, when you had your trial at Barça, Mazinho [Rafinha’s dad] told you you’d not been picked…

Yes, so you can see we’re a jokey family [laughs]. Once I’d finished the trial, he came and told me I’d not passed. That they didn’t want me. That they weren’t going to count on me. Imagine that for a 12-year-old kid, you’re more or less destroyed. But after five minutes, my mum called me and said it was a joke. They had all banded up together. 

What role did Thiago [Rafinha’s brother] play?

He moved away a little because, of course, he was starting to laugh. He was looking at the sky, holding it in…. But, well, imagine the excitement in the end for a boy of 12 when you’re told you’re going to play at Barça the following season. 

What’s the first thing that went through your head when you realised you’d been chosen by Barça? 

For a kid it’s a dream. In my case, I thought it was something impossible. Because a year and a half before the trial I was a goalkeeper. And I always imagined myself as a goalkeeper. So, when I passed the trial, it was like: What’s happening here? I couldn’t believe it. 

So we’ve lost a great goalkeeper!? 

Well, no, for my height! Even though I’m almost two meters tall, eh!? No, I’m joking, but I would love to be! I’d love to be! If I was that tall I would like to be a goalkeeper. In fact, last year after training I stayed behind a bit and people shot at me. 

What is it that catches your attention about being a goalkeeper? 

I remember the kits from when I was younger. The goalkeeping kits, damn! Those colours, the gloves… Everything seemed incredible. At Celta Vigo I always focused on Dutruel, who for me was a great goalkeeper. In Brazil I played as a goalkeeper at Flamengo. Then I arrived in Galicia and I continued in goal; then later I changed. 

Your family call you Rafa. Where did the nickname Rafinha come from? 

I began to want Rafinha when I arrived at Barça. When I was drawing shirts, I always put Rafinha. And in Brazil people always called me Rafinha in an affectionate way. I like it. 

You’ve spent many summers in Brazil playing foot-volley with you brother, your dad, legendary footballers like Donato… what memories do you have of this times? 

There were a lot of ex-footballers. We’d play all sorts of games, always with my dad, but above all with my brother, Thiago.

Who was the best out of the two of you at the time? 

Him. Always Thiago. He was the star.

Did he goad you much? 

A bit [laughs]. But I was always really competitive if the situation required it. We would always play two against one. My dad and me against my brother. Me brother and me against my dad… things like that. 

Who used to win? 

Normally I always had to win, because I was the little one and if not I would end up crying! I was really competitive. We say that until I won, we could’t stop playing [laughs]. 

And Mazinho…

He played the role of the dad: giving 50 per cent. 

Now you and your bother are maturing, becoming adults, who’s more like Mazinho? 

In a way of being, I would say my brother. Thiago is a little more serious than me. So as a person I would say my brother, but I also have a lot of things from my dad. 

And in terms of football? 

I think we’re both different in that respect. My dad was good technically, but also defensively. He was a defensive midfielder who knew how to play, who knew how to manage a team. But we’re more attacking. We like to do more tricks with the ball. 

Who’s the most competitive in the family? 

Ufff! We’re a really, really competitive family. I think that’s a good quality, no? Our parents have drummed that into us. But of the five of us… I would say my mum [laughs]. 

Valeria is the dark horse…

Yes, yes, I would say the most competitive of everyone. [She was a volleyball player]. 

There’s one game you and Thiago played together in 2011 against Bate for Barça, how was that? 

It was a dream come true. Something you always dream about, but never imagine can happen. For the family and for us it was incredible. The first team called me up to train and I went with the idea that I could make the squad… and in the end we were both there with the first team. A dream. 

Then came the moment Thiago decided to leave Barça. How were you the day he told you: ‘Rafa, I’m leaving’?

I knew that for his career it was an important step. I support him with everything. For me it was a good decision to leave Barça. 

People say you’re more Brazilian than Thiago in the way you deal with things… 

I think so, because I always spent my holidays there. Thiago didn’t because he had to play in the European Championships for U17s, U19s… I was spending three months in Brazil. I was with my friends and I was already really Rio, I’ve lived with that. I’ve always felt really Brazilian.