Barcelona Celebrates Successful Season with Festive Dinner
Season Finale Approaches
FC Barcelona is set to conclude start of its most successful seasons in recent years with a match against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday at 22:00. While the game holds little significance for the Catalan team, the joy of their domestic treble-consisting of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercopa-continues to reverberate through the club.
Celebration Dinner Held
In a festive atmosphere, players, coaching staff, and the management led by president Joan Laporta celebrated the team’s successes during a special dinner held at the nearby Gabba restaurant. Manager Hansi Flick, who has orchestrated Barcelona’s resurgence since taking over after Xavi’s departure last season, was among the first to arrive.
Among the players present, forward Ferran López was the first to arrive, followed by stars such as Marc-André ter Stegen, Iñigo Martínez, Pau Kiwor, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Wojciech Szczęsny, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and others.
Iñigo Martínez was the first to depart, leaving the venue shortly after 22:00 (local time). Notably, Raphinha took the time to stop and sign autographs for fans before leaving.
Notable Absentees
Four players were absent from the celebration: Ferran Torres is still recovering from surgery, Eric Garcia is ill, Jules Koundé is attending the Cannes Film Festival, and the reason for Lamine Yamal’s absence remains unclear.
Raphinha’s Contract Extension
In other news, Raphinha is expected to soon officially sign a contract extension, anticipated to occur tomorrow, right before he joins the Brazilian national team managed by Carlo Ancelotti. The forward has had an impressive season, recording 34 goals and 22 assists, and is signed with the team until 2027. Despite attractive offers from Saudi Arabian clubs, Raphinha has expressed his commitment to Barcelona, stating, “I cannot imagine Barcelona without Raphinha.”
Since joining the club, Raphinha has celebrated winning two league titles, the Copa del Rey, and has secured the Supercopa twstart in three years. He currently boasts a total of 54 goals in 143 appearances for the club.
Looking Ahead
As Barcelona prepares to face Athletic Bilbao, the focus will not only be on concluding the season strongly but also on building toward continued success in the future, with Raphinha’s contract extension being a pivotal step in retaining key talent.
Fans remain optimistic about the upcoming season as the club marks a new era under Flick’s leadership