By Ewah Chika.
If there is a defender that went to the just concluded Euro's in France unknown but left with his image and rating enhanced then it is no one but Portugal and former Lorient left-back Raphael Guerreiro who signed for Borussia Dortmund for €12 million shortly before the Euro's.
At 22, Raphael is miles ahead of his peers with his pace and attacking talent reminiscent of Real Madrid's Marcelo. Dortmund will be thanking their stars that they concluded the deal to sign him before the tournament as he was named in the Team of the Tournament after helping Portugal to win their second major trophy. This isn't the first time the defender has achieved such feat as he was also one of five Portuguese named in the Team of the Tournament at the end of the 2015 European U-21 tournament which Portugal finished as runner-up. Last season, Raphael played 34 Ligue 1 games for Lorient scoring three goals and assisting a further two. He also completed 83 % of his passes, averaging 1.1 shots per game which is high for a defender.
"You have to defend more at left-back. I'm enjoying myself more in midfield," were the words of Raphael when asked by reporters on his preferred position in the field.
Raphael can also comfortably play as a wing back in a 3-5-2 formation or in the left forward position considering his quick dribbling, shot accuracy and crossing ability which has marked him out as an attacking left back. The defender also boasts an impressive average tackle of 1.1 per game with a success rate of 63% last season for Lorient.
Raphael prefers playing in an advanced role and is not a natural defender although that has been the position he has played in most of his games for both Lorient and Portugal.
Like every other player, Raphael's small frame of 5'7 and 138 Lbs (smallest Portuguese player In the Euro's) makes him a lightweight in aerial duels as well as his poor tackling although he compensates with his top notch ball interception. With the likes of Sokratis, Sven Bender or Batra and Lukasz Piszczek playing with him in defence for Dortmund, Raphael will thrive in Ruhr given he is the missing jigsaw for Thomas Tuchel's defence as the left-back's quick attacking football will bode well with the likes of Emre Mor, Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who play a high energy pressing game with devastating counter attacking effects.
"My father is a Benfica fan, and I'd love to play for them. But my dream is to play for Real Madrid," was the defender's words to FourFourTwo magazine some months ago . To achieve his dream of playing in Santiago Bernabeu, Raphael will need to improve and become one of the best in Dortmund. The defender was born in France and only started learning Portuguese a few months to the Euro tournament in France. He was signed by Lorient for €2.5 million as a 19-year-old from Caen in 2013 which incidentally is also the former club of new Chelsea signing N'Golo Kante before he joined Leicester in the summer of last season.
Raphael is certainly an upgrade on current Dortmund left back Marcel Schmelzer (28) who is has not delivered on his earlier promise after his break through season in Dortmund in 2008. At tender age of 22, Raphael has played in over 140 French Ligue 1 games with both Caen and Lorient scoring over 11 goals.
Dortmund might have resigned Mario Gotze with much publicity but come the end of the season , Raphael might end up the Player's Player of the Year judging by his records and talent.
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