Leaders Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid tomorrow  in La Liga with Raphinha back to his devastating best as the team’s centre-forward, suggesting the Catalan giants have little reason to regret missing out on Julian Alvarez this summer.

The Argentina international tried to force his way out of Atletico to join Spanish champions Barca, whose attempts to engineer a deal angered the Rojiblancos.

Barcelona were fined around 600 euros ($675) for their approach for striker Alvarez by the Spanish football federation in October.

Alvarez stayed and later apologised to Atletico fans to try and rebuild bridges, while Barcelona moved on fast, with winger Raphinha developing into an unstoppable force in a previously unfamiliar number nine role.

Raphinha’s form has made the chances of Barca returning for Alvarez next summer remote, and, after penning a new contract until 2030 on Thursday, he will look to underline that against Atletico.

With the Brazilian firing on all cylinders Hansi Flick’s side won 11 games straight across all competitions at the start of the season but then suffered back-to-back defeats by Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Raphinha was not at his best for either match after suffering a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil at the end of September.

The 29-year-old was uncharacteristically quiet in Barca’s 4-2 Champions League defeat by PSG, and he netted in the subsequent 2-1 home defeat by Real Madrid without shining.

Four goals in the two matches which followed, against Alaves and Aston Villa, indicate he has now recovered fully.