In the prime of his footballing career and probably at his best, Raphinha has decided to take a step into a field that many teammates still consider taboo: mental health. The Brazilian, a key piece in Barça's attack, gave an interview in which he spoke candidly about the importance of psychological support in an athlete's life.
"I started psychological treatment five years ago," Raphinha confessed at first, later clarifying that these were regular consultations and not clinical treatment. The player recalled that, at first, he associated the figure of the psychologist with something negative.
"Before, I saw that as something for crazy people, but seeing how important it is for a footballer and a professional, I took the step," the athlete confessed. Since then, he has kept that routine as an essential tool in his career and personal life.
Raphinha speaks about the importance of mental health
Raphinha said that he had already turned to these consultations during his time at Rennes and Leeds, which shows that this is not a recent decision. "I've been going to psychologist consultations for years. I see it as very important," he insisted, emphasizing that mental work is as decisive as physical work to perform at the elite level.
The confession from the Barça winger puts on the table a topic that is gradually starting to become normalized in the world of sports, but that still faces resistance in certain locker rooms. "There are people who think it's only for people who have mental problems. I think now it's important to know what's going on with you," he explained.
He naturally dismantled the stigma that weighs on psychology. He added a phrase that sums up the essence of his experience: "Players go to the psychologist to know what's going on with yourself."
Raphinha confirms that he goes to the psychologist
Raphinha's intervention is not just a personal testimony, but also a call to pay attention to the need to take care of mental health in professional sports. The pressure of competing every three days or the demand to keep a high physical level makes the footballer a profile quite vulnerable to anxiety and stress.
In this sense, Raphinha's words open a debate that is increasingly present in modern soccer. The mind also plays, and taking good care of it can make the difference between good performance and falling into a slump that's not always easy to get out of.