Leeds United fall short of ‘sensational’ jackpot amid Raphinha developments at Barcelona
Despite leaving years ago, Raphinha is still one of the most popular figures at Leeds United.
Raphinha was a cult hero at Leeds last time they were in the Premier League, and since joining Barcelona, the Brazilian has gone from strength to strength.
Now back in the Premier League, Leeds have several players who will be hoping to replicate his career trajectory.
However, after developments on Monday night at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Leeds came agonisingly close to pulling off a transfer masterstroke.
This story includes exclusive comment from football finance expert Dr Daniel Plumley.
Leeds included Ballon d’Or clause in Raphinha transfer
In the space of just a few years, Raphinha went from an Elland Road regular to a world superstar at Barcelona, and he was very nearly credited for that.
He finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, but had he won the award, Leeds could have pocketed around £10million from a clause in his transfer.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, finance expert Dan Plumley explained how those types of clauses are becoming more common in football, and how it was nearly a masterstroke by the Whites.
Raphinha’s stats last season
- 57 appearances all comeptions
- 34 goals
- 22 assists
He said: “It’s one of those things in sell on clauses and contract negotiations that is becoming a bit more of the norm and and they’re a little bit sort of left field sometimes.
“If that player’s going to go, and you think that there’s potential for him to go on and achieve things, why not?
“Had it come off, then you’d have been looking at that as a sensational bit of business, but it’s probably one of those that they would have never expected to get.”
Raphinha was robbed of the Ballon d’Or
Even taking Leeds’ bias out of it, Raphinha deserved to be significantly higher than fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, though it goes to show how little performances actually influence these awards.
It’s mainly PR, as seen by some ot the other ludicrous rankings across world football.
At 28 years old, Raphinha will still have many more chances of winning the award, though whether he can replicate a campaign in which he got 56 goal contributions in 57 games remains to be seen.
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