Thibaut Courtois believes Barcelona forward Raphinha is not always given the credit he merits, despite making an outstanding start to the season.
The Brazil international has scored 14 goals in eight matches, including hat-tricks in two consecutive games. Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, praised the player during an appearance on the Radio Estadio Noche programme.
“I like him a lot,” Courtois said. “He is a key player for Barcelona. He does not always receive the recognition he deserves, but he is an essential player for the team.”
Raphinha was decisive in the most recent meeting between the two clubs, scoring twice as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup.
Despite Real Madrid’s recent results against their rivals, Courtois said the club remained determined to continue winning trophies.
“We have won a lot of cups in the past 15 years,” he said. “We have a great desire to win that number of cups again. That is what Real Madrid demands of you, and that is what we see every day when we come in here.”
Courtois also spoke positively about Jose Mourinho, who previously worked with him in England, and said the experienced Portuguese coach had become calmer compared with his time at Chelsea.
“He is as good as he was at Chelsea,” Courtois said. “Perhaps he has different ideas, because football has evolved since then.
“I think he is calmer in his daily life and in front of the media. But he still puts pressure on people on the pitch and in meetings, and he still says what he thinks directly to people.”
Courtois’ comments offer a favourable assessment of Mourinho’s development since his Chelsea tenure, while making clear that the manager’s direct approach and high demands remain unchanged.
The goalkeeper’s praise for Raphinha comes despite the Brazilian being a key figure for Barcelona in their recent success against Real Madrid. His two goals in the Spanish Super Cup victory made him one of the decisive players in the latest meeting between the sides.
Courtois, however, focused on the wider demands of playing for Real Madrid, where he said the expectation of regularly collecting trophies remains constant. The Belgian goalkeeper pointed to the club’s record over the past 15 years and said the desire to repeat that level of success continues to drive the squad.
