Barcelona’s long-awaited homecoming to the revamped Camp Nou delivered several emotional moments, and for Raphinha, it marked a night he says he will remember for the rest of his life.
The Brazilian winger had been out of action for two months after suffering what initially seemed to be a minor hamstring injury in a La Liga match against Real Oviedo back in September.
Although the problem appeared manageable at the time, it quickly became clear that the setback required a longer recovery period.
Raphinha’s return to fitness happened to coincide with Barcelona’s first match back at their iconic stadium, creating the perfect setting for an emotional reunion with the supporters.
The 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao was already a celebratory occasion for the club, but the warm reception directed at Raphinha added another layer of significance to the night.
The Brazilian admitted that the ovation he received exceeded everything he had imagined. “I’ll tell you it was something extremely surprising, something very moving. If I told you I wasn’t expecting applause… no, I was expecting it, but not in the way it happened,” he told TNT Sports Brazil.
Raphinha explained that the emotional moment began even before he stepped onto the pitch.
“I think it was from the moment I stood up from the bench to start warming up that the crowd began to clap, and that was so special,” he revealed.
The applause only grew louder as he jogged along the touchline, and the reaction left him visibly touched.
He went on to describe how the atmosphere affected him physically.
“That moment made me shiver all over during the warm-up, and then, when I entered the pitch and saw almost the entire stadium clapping and chanting my name,” the winger said, reflecting on the overwhelming support he felt from the fans.
Barcelona return to Camp Nou with limited capacity
Barcelona finally returned to Camp Nou after more than two years away, having temporarily relocated to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys while the historic stadium underwent major renovation works and capacity upgrades.
The reopening marked a symbolic step forward for the club as they continue modernising the ground while restoring the emotional bond between players and supporters.
While the stadium is not yet ready to operate at full capacity, it still hosted 45,157 fans on its reopening night. The club hopes to receive approval early next year to increase that number to around 60,000.
Once renovations are fully complete, the new Camp Nou will hold an estimated 105,000 seats, making it the largest stadium in Europe and a global football landmark.
FGG Says
Raphinha’s words capture exactly why Camp Nou is more than just a football stadium. Barcelona’s return was always going to be historic, but moments like this show how deeply connected the players and fans remain despite a turbulent period away from home.
The warmth of that ovation reflects a fanbase that values effort, emotion, and loyalty. For a player returning from injury, hearing his name sung by nearly the entire stadium can be transformative, and it may give Raphinha the confidence he needs to push forward in the months ahead.