Phil Hay: Leeds United to have Raphinha fees waived, seven-figure sum saved
Leeds United have had a collection of fees waived by Barcelona as they close in on a deal to sign Brazil winger Raphinha, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (13 July) that Leeds have agreed a deal to sell Raphinha, 25, to Barcelona in a deal that’s worth a total of around £55million.
Hay claims that on top of that, Leeds will have to pay a sell-on fee to Rennes but will also save at least £1million in fees owed to Raphinha with Barcelona ready to pick up the bill.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show podcast on Thursday (14 July, 11m38s), Hay said: “The fee to Rennes will be paid by Leeds. That’s Leeds’ responsibility to do.
“Bu there are other fees in this which will be waived, from what I understand anyway.
“Exactly what level they’re at, I’m not sure. But you’re talking seven figures.
“When you add it all up, when you’re a buying club you want to look like you’re buying a player as cheap as possible and if you’re the selling club, you want it to look like you’ve received as much as possible.
“You’ll often hear clubs say that the buying club go low and the selling club go low. And the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
“But the actual fee is £50million plus £5million but there will be things that alter that because of the way it’s been negotiated.”
How are they paying for this?
As long as Leeds receive the money for Raphinha, the Whites won’t really care how Barcelona are able to fund a move for the winger despite their eye-watering debts.
While we would have liked to have received more money for the Brazil international, at least we won’t have to see him playing at Elland Road in the blue of Chelsea next season as we might not ever get a chance to see him play against us for Barca.
It’s a small price to pay but the fact that fees are being waived that total over £1million show just how desperate Barca were to complete this deal.
Raphinha is a top-class player and he’s proven that in his two years in the Premier League with Leeds.
However, if you look from the outside in, you have to question how the Spanish club are funding this deal because they’re widely reported to have a debt of around £1billion.
There have also been rumours about Frenkie de Jong being owed wages by the La Liga side.
It’s all a bizarre situation and one that FIFA and UEFA really need to address.
But as for Leeds, they’re doing nothing wrong and are getting a top fee for a top player.
We wish Raphinha all the best.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are set to use fresh funding to try and complete a box-office signing at Elland Road.