Real Madrid star stuns everyone with his verdict on Barcelona’s captain.. and a fiery Clasico warning

Nobody expected the warmest praise for Barcelona’s captain this season to come from inside the dressing room of their fiercest rivals, yet that is exactly what happened in the last few hours, setting social media alight among both Blaugrana and Merengue fans.

A big name at Real Madrid broke his silence, admitted what many refuse to admit, and even sent a clear message just one month before the eagerly awaited Clásico, in comments rarely heard between players of the two giants.

The star in question is Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who praised Barcelona captain Raphinha, insisting the Brazilian does not get the recognition he deserves despite being a key piece of the Catalan side.

“I really like Raphinha. He is a key piece at Barça. When he hasn’t been there, I think they’ve struggled a lot, and when he is, they’re playing well. He doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. We’ll have to stop him in a month’s time,” Courtois said in a radio interview.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper’s praise comes after Raphinha was left out of the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite finishing fifth in the 2025 edition following a historic domestic treble with Barcelona.

Raphinha has made a stunning start to the new campaign, scoring 14 goals and providing 3 assists in just 8 appearances before the international break, making him Hansi Flick’s most dangerous weapon.

However, there is concern around the Barcelona captain right now. He returned early from Brazil duty after feeling muscular swelling in his right thigh during the win over Australia, and tests revealed a small muscle edema in the back of the thigh.

According to Spanish reports, Flick plans to handle Raphinha’s return with great caution this time, after rushing him back from a similar injury last season led to a relapse that kept him out for 58 days and 13 matches.

Barcelona face Getafe on October 10 after the international break, while all eyes are already on the Clásico against Real Madrid, a game Courtois seems to be preparing for early, with his eyes fixed on Raphinha.

Courtois also backed his teammate Kylian Mbappé to win the Ballon d’Or, arguing that individual performance should carry more weight than the number of trophies when choosing the winner.