For many Leeds United supporters, especially the younger generations, Raphinha is the best player they have seen to don the famous white shirt at Elland Road.
For this reason, the Brazilian remains a popular figure in West Yorkshire despite leaving the Whites to join Barcelona back in 2022.
The tricky winger was exceptional under Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds finished 9th in their first season back in the Premier League, before Raphinha proved to be United’s talisman when the club needed him most in his second season, with the Brazilian’s form arguably being the reason why Leeds managed to avoid relegation.
Another former Leeds United winger has recently opened up about the influence Raphinha had on him when the two were both at the club and how it helped him reach the next level in his career whilst at Elland Road.
Crysencio Summerville reveals what Raphinha told him whilst at Leeds
Like Raphinha, Summerville himself became a popular figure at Elland Road, with the Dutchman’s standout season with the Whites coming in the 2023/24 campaign, which was Daniel Farke’s first season in charge, which ultimately ended in heartbreak for Leeds and Summerville after losing the play-off final to Southampton.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Summerville revealed the influence Raphinha had on him as he was breaking into the first team at Leeds.
“I was at Leeds United, and I learned a lot from Raphinha as well. Really good player, and I spoke with him a lot, and I picked everything up, what he did, what he said, obviously, now he’s one of the best players in the world.
“I made my debut for Leeds in 2021 against Newcastle, came on for him as well, and I would say I was a bit shy at first. They knew what I could do in training, but in the games, I was a bit shy to show it, and he told me, ‘Don’t be shy, show everyone what you do in training.’
“In the next game, I started to do my thing. It came out, my flowers came out, and that always stays with me, don’t be scared, show everyone what you’re capable of.”
Crysencio Summerville is in fantastic form for West Ham
Following on from the Whites’ play-off final defeat in 2024, Summerville switched West Yorkshire for East London when he joined West Ham.
For the most part, Summerville’s West Ham career has been hampered by injuries; however, the Dutchman has begun to get back to his best as of late, with the Hammers involved in a heated relegation battle with Leeds.
- Summerville has scored six goals and registered one assist in his last eight games in all competitions
- Prior to this run of form, the winger had gone 28 games in all competitions without scoring (Sofascore)
Leeds fans will be hoping that this purple patch is short-lived for the 24-year-old, with the gap between Leeds and 18th-placed West Ham currently sitting at six points.
