Heading into Leeds United’s clash away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, it felt as if it was a game the Whites couldn’t afford to slip up in as they attempted to get grumbling supporters back on side.
After all, the unwanted backdrop for the trip to Molineux was the fact that Leeds had only scored one goal all season long in Premier League action, with a last-minute loss away at Fulham also still very much stinging.
Thankfully, the demons of Craven Cottage were exorcised emphatically in the West Midlands, as a first-half flurry of goals handed Daniel Farke’s men a 3-1 win.
Already, some heroes are beginning to emerge, with Anton Stach’s wonderfully taken free-kick on the day already making him a firm favourite among the travelling Leeds contingent.
Stach and various other top performers at Wolves will hope they’re remembered in a similar light to Raphinha down the line, with the Brazilian still fondly remembered as a modern icon at Elland Road, before winning himself a bumper move to Barcelona.
Raphinha's memorable stay at Leeds
While Raphinha is now in regular Ballon d’Or conversations at the Camp Nou, he will still look back on his time in West Yorkshire as a proud career moment.
Indeed, without this switch to English shores, the sensational South American might never have been able to win himself such an illustrious move to Spain, with the 28-year-old going on to prove himself as a top-level talent for the Whites by constantly lighting up the demanding Premier League.
Across 67 games donning Leeds white, Raphinha would chip in with 17 goals and 12 assists, with his efforts during the 2021/22 season managing to help keep his precarious side afloat in the top division, per Transfermarkt.
Indeed, without his 11 strikes in Premier League action, Leeds might well have fallen through the trapdoor, with a vital strike on the final day away at Brentford securing a much-needed 2-1 victory to beat the drop.
Winning an all-important penalty on that day, too, alongside also throwing himself into three successful ground duels, Raphinha is further remembered for his non-stop commitment to the cause, away from just his obvious sublime qualities in attack.
One of Farke’s emerging stars from the Wolves win embodies this same spirit, arguably, with another hard-working, yet skilful winger catching the eye in a similar vein to the much-loved Brazilian, and it was not Stach.
Leeds have unearthed their next Raphinha
Various faces in Farke’s camp now have the potential to be the club’s next cherished legend in the same mould as Raphinha, with plenty of the German’s new signings entering the hustle and bustle of the English top-flight from Europe.
Amazingly, the 28-year-old attacker only cost Leeds £17m to obtain from Rennes back in 2020, with a similar bargain perhaps in the offing when considering Noah Okafor relocated from AC Milan to West Yorkshire himself for just £1m more at the £18m mark this summer.
Stat
Okafor
Minutes played
70
Goals scored
1
Assists
0
Touches
40
Accurate passes
6/14 (43%)
Successful dribbles
6/14
Total duels won
8/21
After struggling to get up to speed in his opening Premier League encounters, Okafor would – thankfully – spark into life on the road at Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold, with his calmly tucked away chance on the counter ending up being a game-clinching goal for his new side in the 3-1 win.
Now, Farke and Co. will hope the Swiss international can kick on and pick up more goals and even assists aplenty to be held in the same high regard as Raphinha, with Okafor hoping he can, too, be viewed as a dependable and exciting option on the left wing in the long term that regularly ensures survival is secured.
He should be able to settle, considering his past exploits in some tough European environments, with a mighty 81 goal contributions picked up in total playing in Austria, Italy and his native homeland, even seeing scout Jacek Kulig hail the 25-year-old as “incredibly prolific”.
With his Leeds duck now broken after three games, the goals will hopefully start flowing, as he potentially chases down Raphinha’s weighty 17 strikes in England.
Obviously, the hope will be that Okafor sticks it out at Leeds past the two seasons Raphinha managed.
But, if the “electric” forward, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, were to go on and be as jaw-dropping to watch as his South American counterpart, a big move might also arrive at the number 19’s door, whether Farke’s side likes it or not.
Not Okafor or Stach: Farke's 9/10 hero looked like "Leeds' best player"
This Leeds United star outshone both Noah Okafor and Anton Stach at Molineux.
ByKelan Sarson
