Raphinha spoke with Movistar Plus ahead of the crucial El Clasico on Sunday and expressed his desire to continue playing for the club. The Brazilian, whose contract runs until June 2027, revealed that multiple negotiations have taken place regarding an extension, and he hopes to wear the Barcelona shirt for many more years.

Raphinha, who will be one of Barcelona’s key players in El Clasico, spoke about his love for the club: “It’s illogical to imagine football at its highest level without Barcelona. Honestly, I’m really enjoying my time here now. I never dreamed of being in such a position.” When asked about his next step at Barcelona, he firmly replied, “Renewing my contract.”

The Brazilian, who previously played for Leeds United, emphasized that he couldn’t imagine Barcelona without him. “I work hard to give my best performance. I think I’m in good form now, and I hope to continue this way.”

Raphinha also discussed the importance and atmosphere of El Clasico, describing it as special: “El Clasico is like a final—a different and unique match. The city stops on this day, and the whole world watches. Until the moment we enter the stadium, everything before El Clasico is very tense. Tension is natural in any match, but this game is more intense.”

With Barcelona holding a four-point lead over Real Madrid in La Liga, Raphinha called this match decisive for the title: “Both teams are fighting for La Liga; neither is superior or inferior. We are well prepared and will get a great result. Playing and scoring in El Clasico is special for me, but the most important thing is victory, whether I score or not.”

In another part of the interview, Raphinha spoke about comparisons with Neymar, Barcelona’s Brazilian legend, and his relationship with him: “I’m happy to have matched Neymar’s best stats with Barcelona in Europe. I hope to score more goals and achieve what he did with this shirt. I talk to Neymar a lot and take his advice in many situations.”