Bernal hails Raphinha as Barcelona's dressing-room leader after five-goal LaLiga start

Marc Bernal has identified Raphinha as a defining presence in Barcelona’s dressing room, crediting the Brazilian with actively supporting the club’s younger players after his double against Rayo Vallecano on 31 August. The midfielder’s remarks, given to DAZN and relayed by EFE, came as Raphinha’s brace took his tally to five goals from Barcelona’s opening three LaLiga matches.

Barcelona sit top of LaLiga with a perfect nine points from three games, and Bernal was careful to distribute the credit rather than focus on Raphinha alone. He also highlighted Lamine Yamal, who scored twice himself having gone several matches without a goal, saying the teenager had already demonstrated his quality and that the squad was pleased to see him back on the scoresheet.

Raphinha as the dressing-room reference

Bernal described Raphinha as someone who is very close to the group and widely respected — a first-hand account from one of the younger players who says he benefits directly from the captain’s presence. The comments add a dressing-room dimension to Raphinha’s growing leadership role at the club, where he has previously served as interim captain and has steadily risen within Barcelona’s captaincy hierarchy.

Bernal on competition with Rodri

Asked about the arrival of Rodri, who operates in the same defensive-midfield position Bernal occupies, the Berga-born player was relaxed about the situation. He described the competition for that role as good and, above all, healthy — a response that reflects a squad currently topping the table without apparent internal friction over places.

Bernal closed by urging the squad to keep working, train every day, and pursue all of the team’s objectives this season. Paired with his praise for Raphinha and Yamal, the comments point to a dressing room where senior figures are actively shaping how Barcelona’s academy graduates adapt to first-team demands as the title race takes shape.