Raphinha gives fresh Leeds United insight as Barcelona star salutes personal impact of ex-Whites teammate

Barcelona and Brazil star Raphinha has offered fresh Leeds United insight with praise for former Whites teammate Liam Cooper ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Club captain Cooper had already been at Leeds for six years when a relatively unknown Raphinha joined the Whites from Rennes for £19m back in October 2020.

Raphinha arrived with nothing like the reputation he has today and unable to speak any English but the Brazilian says Cooper played a particularly important role in helping him to settle in.

After dazzling for Leeds, Raphinha eventually left the club to join Barcelona in a deal worth up to £55m in July 2022 and the 29-year-old is now one of the best players in the world who is eyeing World Cup glory with Brazil.

The winger, though, has most definitely not forgotten his Leeds roots, or the impact that club captain Cooper had on him.

Ahead of the World Cup, Raphinha was asked by the Scottish Sun if former Leeds teammate and ex-Scotland defender Cooper had been a help to him and what he could say about him.

“From the very first day I arrived at Leeds United”

Raphinha smiled and said: “Liam was a guy who really helped me a lot from the very first day I arrived at Leeds United.

“He helped me to adapt, especially with the language because I didn’t speak it. I had no English at all, and I wasn’t used to the football there, and especially the cold weather.

“Liam was someone who really helped me adapt into the club and brought me in with all the players. Without understanding anything, he tried to talk to me!

“I look back, and Liam was someone who gave me peace of mind to be able to play good football at Leeds.

“It was really important to have support from someone like him who had been at the club longer.”