Raphinha set to seal Leeds United exit as Barcelona make £63m bid
Raphinha is set to leave Leeds for Barcelona after the Spanish giants matched the club’s £63m asking price, according to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail.
The Brazilian has been subject to heavy interest all summer and the Whites accepted a bid from Premier League rivals Chelsea [The Athletic, June 29].
However Raphinha has been holding out for a dream switch to Barcelona and the Catalan club have now made their move, bidding £55m plus £8m in add ons and a switch looks likely to happen now.
Leeds had been seeking a large amount of money up front in the deal, with Barcelona’s financial situation meaning the deal was hanging in the balance.
But according to journalist Keegan the club’s sale of television rights has changed things back in their favour and now it’s likely to be completed despite the interest from Chelsea.
Finally
Raphinha was always likely to leave this summer, but the fact Leeds have held out and finally got their price for their biggest asset is a huge positive for this summer window.
Everyone knew that he wanted Barcelona, but fair play to Leeds for not giving in and accepting a lesser amount for the player just because they weren’t initially willing to match it.
With a replacement already sealed in Luis Sinisterra, plus the arrival of Brenden Aaronson and the potential arrival of another attacker before this window closes, the club have already ensured that the 25-year-old’s departure won’t be too harmful to them.
Raphinha will leave the club with good wishes after his two year spell at Elland Road, but fans won’t be best pleased at the way he went about getting his move.
At least he won’t be wearing Chelsea blue next season and we won’t have to see him, as his move to Spain edges closer and closer finally.
In other Leeds news, reports in Spain say there could be an announcement “in the next few hours” regarding Raphinha