Raphinha says Barcelona have shown they do not need any new signings after scoring a hat-trick in Saturday's thumping 7-0 win over Real Valladolid at the Olympic Stadium.
Barca brought in Dani Olmo and Pau Victor earlier in the summer but the transfer window closed on Friday with no further additions, despite links to several players including Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, who plays in Raphinha's position on the left wing.
“Today's game has shown that there is no need for new players to arrive,” Raphinha said after Barca claimed their fourth win in four games under new coach Hansi Flick in La Liga this season.
“We're in a good moment. The team is giving everything in the matches and in training. Today's result shows that everything we're working on is bearing fruit.”
Raphinha opened the scoring against Valladolid in the 20th minute with a fine finish after controlling a good long pass from centre-back Pau Cubarsí.
Robert Lewandowski and Jules Koundé made it 3-0 before the break, and Raphinha completed his hat-trick in the second half before late goals from Olmo and Ferran Torres sealed the win.
“I don't know if it was my best performance, but it was certainly one of them,” said the Brazil international of his display, which also included an assist for Torres' late goal.
“I'm very happy. It's my first hat trick. I'm delighted to have helped the team to victory. I feel good. I've been working hard since I came back from vacation.
“I knew this would be a very important season for me and I want to be at my best to help my teammates.”
Barca manager Flick said he hopes it will be the first of many hat-tricks for Raphinha, although he also praised the fluidity of his attack.
“Believe [Raphinha] “He has the quality to do that often,” Flick told a news conference. “He had a great performance. I think he feels a bit more free on the pitch now.”
“It's important for us that he moves into another space, that another player has the responsibility of occupying the space that he normally is in. We do a lot of things very well. Rapha is one of the players who has done really fantastic in the last four games.”
The win continued Flick's perfect start as Barca manager after replacing Xavi Hernandez earlier this summer, following wins against Valencia, Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano.
The Blaugrana are the only team in LaLiga with a 100% winning record, but Flick knows things can change quickly ahead of the first international break of the season.
“The best thing was that the team played the way we wanted from the start, which was very good,” added the German. “We said we had to be at 100% from the moment the referee blew the whistle and we played very well, creating chances from the start and pressing.”
“When you feel the support of the fans in the stadium, the atmosphere, you can feel that there was something special on the pitch today.
“The team is hungry, after every goal, they go for the next one. And the intensity didn't drop after 85, 90 minutes. That's good. It's also what makes the fans proud.”
“I feel proud, but it's only the fourth game. I know things can change very quickly, the season is very long, but of course it's good because the fans are happy.
“That's what we want to do with our work, but there's still a long way to go until the end of the season. We want to try to improve every game.”
