New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick will be tasked with reducing the wage bill at the Nou Camp with finances still likely to be an issue, and he’s made a decision on Leeds United favourite Raphinha.
Joining Leeds in the summer of 2020, Raphinha was a largely unknown quantity on these shores. He had played for Sporting Lisbon and Rennes, but the Brazilian attacker was yet to win a cap for his country.
However, his two years at Leeds threw him into the limelight. A star of Marcelo Bielsa’s side that finished in ninth place in the Premier League the first season after promotion, Raphinha stayed for another year.
He scored in the crucial 2-1 win over Brentford to keep Leeds up at the end of his second season, his final game for Leeds. Raphinha ended with stats of 17 goals and 12 assists in 69, earning a Barcelona move.
Raphinha has since had his critics at the Nou Camp but the numbers are solid. The 22-time Brazil star has still had a hand in 45 goals in his 87 Barcelona games, 23 involvements coming during the 2023-24 term.
Interest in Raphinha and Flick decision ahead of summer window
Indeed, some have criticised Raphinha’s output in the final third at Barcelona. After his first few months, it was claimed that Barcelona were baffled by his form in training, which was not transferring to matches.
But now, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has posted an update in regards to Raphinha’s future with Saudi Arabian clubs looking to take him to the Middle East this summer on enormous wages.
Plettenberg reports that former Bayern and Germany boss Flick has decided to keep Raphinha at Barca and make him a key player for next season amid the interest in his services ahead of the 2024-25 season.
“Flick firmly included Raphinha in his plans. He considers winger as a potential key player. Many clubs are interested, especially in Saudi Arabia. A final decision has not yet been made. Contract valid until 2027.”
What Raphinha agent said about Arsenal and Chelsea bids
Barcelona were not the only sides interested in signing Raphinha from Leeds back in 2022. The summer in which Jesse Marsch spent the cash raised by Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, on so many poor signings.
Deco, who is now Barcelona’s sporting director, was Raphinha’s agent at the time of the move to Barca. He has since said that Arsenal and Chelsea made bigger offers than Barcelona to raid Leeds for Raphinha.
But, Andrea Radrizzani had promised Raphinha a move to the Nour Camp. In the event of these bigger bids from London, Radrizzani tried to undo that promise – in true radrizzani style – but was unsuccessful.