Kiko Casilla: “Raphinha is very professional, he is not the typical Brazilian from before”

MADRID, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla defines FC Barcelona’s latest signing, his former teammate at Leeds Raphinha, as a “very professional and hard-working” player who is not “the typical Brazilian from before” and who is “explosive and vertical” on the pitch.

“He’s very professional and hard-working, not the typical Brazilian from before. He stays 20 minutes after training to practice set pieces and he’s very familiar,” assured Kiko Casilla in statements to ‘Esports COPE’ reported by Europa Press.

The goalkeeper coincided with the Brazilian at Leeds United, where they shared a dressing room for several seasons. “When you see him train, you know that he has something different and that he stands out a lot,” said the veteran Spanish goalkeeper.

Casilla defines Raphinha as a “winger to get inside and shoot” and an “explosive and vertical” player, which “could be a different tool for Barça’s game”. “He arrives with great confidence because he has played a lot with Brazil,” he added.

The goalkeeper has another year on his contract with Leeds United, but he will not continue with the British club, with whom he is negotiating the termination of his contract. In the last season, he played in LaLiga Santander defending Elche’s goal on loan, and he would like to continue in Spain.

He even spoke about one of the teams in which he was in various stages, RCD Espanyol. “If Espanyol calls me, I’ll go right now,” Casilla said.