Spanish club Barcelona are set to part ways with former Leeds United player Raphinha after one season at the club.
According to a recent report published by Toni Juanmarti, Barcelona are considering selling Raphinha in the summer transfer market. They are not happy with the player’s performances up until this point of the season, and believe he is not meeting expectations.
The Brazilian has several suitors across top clubs in Europe, with a fair few Premier League teams interested in his signature.
Barcelona also know that they have to raise money ahead of the summer market to meet financial fair play and to complete more signings.
They are aware that after activating several financial levers in the summer, they will have to complete a large sale, and Raphinha is one of the very few players who can generate around €50 million.
Raphinha was bought in the summer for €65 million, as Barcelona beat Chelsea to his signing. They also renewed Ousmane Dembele a few weeks later.
The two have been battling it out all season on the right-wing, but it is clear that Xavi prefers the Frenchman in that role. As such, the former Leeds United man has been relegated to either a second fiddle role or asked to play on the left-wing.
From Raphinha’s camp, they have asked Barcelona for more consistency and patience. They cite the example of Vinicius Jr. at Real Madrid, who was criticised for his performances for a few seasons before he eventually shined under Carlo Ancelotti last season.
His entourage have explained to the club that it is not easy to adapt to the tactical demands of a club like Barcelona. As such, Raphinha has no intention to leave anytime soon, and will definitely fight for his place in the team.
It is also important to note that Raphinha has started no less than six games in La Liga, out of a total of 13 appearances. During that time, he has assisted two goals and scored two himself, most recently including an 85th-minute winner against Osasuna.
