The two goals and the Brazilian Super Cup title for Palmeiras had even greater meaning for Raphael Veiga. The midfielder had two injuries that hindered his performance and ended 2022 in August.
Raphael Veiga injured his ankle in the first leg of the Libertadores semifinal against Athletico-PR on August 30, 2022. After trying a more conservative treatment, Veiga underwent arthroscopy on September 10. It was five months of recovery after ankle surgery.
The ankle is more delicate, we come back with a little pain. I still feel a little, I need to take a medicine or another to play at the beginning, but I believe that later it will get better – said Veiga, in an interview with Esporte Espetacular.
Despite the physical problems, until then something unheard of in the 27-year-old’s career, Veiga had his best season in numbers. In 46 games in 2022, 40 of them as a starter, there were 19 goals and six assists. The midfielder won three titles: Recopa Sul-Americana, Campeonato Paulista and Brasileirao.
I went through a difficult time last year, scoring and winning is very good. Happy to be coming back well and I have a very high expectation for this year. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, I always need to be better than I am. It was a difficult time, but I never stopped believing and I always knew what I could do. I will always want to do more – said Veiga to ge as he left the field after winning the Super Cup.
Raphael Veiga’s importance and decision-making power at Palmeiras is proven by the numbers. There are eight titles for the club, with 11 goals in 17 finals.
