Raphinha Named First Captain of Barcelona for New Season

Barcelona is set to change the leadership structure of the team for the 2026/2027 season, with Brazilian Raphinha becoming the frontrunner to wear the captain's armband. This comes after the departure of Marc-André ter Stegen to Ajax and Ronald Araújo's exit from the team following his loan move to Liverpool.

According to "ESPN Brasil", Raphinha will take over the captaincy of Barcelona for the new season, moving to the top of the leadership hierarchy after establishing an important presence in the team's dressing room in recent times.

Frenkie de Jong was the closest to taking the captaincy after the departures of Ter Stegen and Araújo, especially since he was the third captain last season. However, the selection of Raphinha has made him the second captain, followed by Pedri and Eric Garcia.

Brazilian sources have indicated that Raphinha was already part of Barcelona's group of leaders before rising to the top position, having demonstrated leadership qualities that led his teammates to previously nominate him as one of the players capable of wearing the captain's armband.

The decision reflects Raphinha's significant development since joining Barcelona from Leeds United, where he has become one of the team's standout players and most influential figures. He has earned the respect of his teammates thanks to his competitive spirit, commitment, and sense of responsibility.

Raphinha's rise to the top of the leadership rankings coincides with his increased presence in Barcelona's social media accounts, as the club used his image in two recent posts to promote the final stage of preparations for the new season, before he takes on the team's captaincy.