Raphinha uses lookalike to avoid Spanish media as he arrives in Barcelona to complete Leeds United exit
A Raphinha lookalike fooled the Spanish media as he left El Prat Airport in Barcelona ahead of leaving Leeds United on Wednesday, 13 July, according to Toni Juanmarti.
Jijantes editor Gerard Romero had earlier been fooled by a man who looked a bit like Raphinha getting into a minibus outside of the airport, shouting “it’s Raphinha in red” and “bravo” once the doors were closed.
You can see the hilarious video clip below because, as every Leeds fan would know, Raphinha’s arms are plastered in tattoos and this definitely isn’t him.
Relevo journalist Juanmarti then uploaded an actual image of Raphinha – with his tattooed arms on show – in a Barcelona polo shirt.
Juanmarti said on his Twitter account that a decoy, who’s related to the Brazilian, had been used at the front of the aiport so Raphinha could leave quietly.
“A relative of Raphinha made the break uncheck at El Prat Airport to attract the media spotlight and allow the player to leave calmly moments later,” said Juanmarti on 13 July.
Romero found the funny side of it, later reporting that Raphinha was on his way to Barcelona Hospital for his medical and that his double would be joining him.
Slippery
It’s hard to get hold of Raphinha.
That’s what most Premier League defenders will admit too as well with the Brazilian winger slipping through the fingers of the Spanish media like an eel on Wednesday.
Raphinha’s clever ploy had Romero in meltdown on Twitch because he was convinced that the man in red was the Barca-bound star.
Instead, it was just a relative, according to Juanmarti.
It wouldn’t shock us if Deco was the man behind this because he’s been causing all kinds of issues with this deal.
He’s pushed and pushed for Raphinha to go to Barcelona when he could have joined Chelsea – for more money – weeks ago and Leeds might have had their summer business done by now.
Barca’s money issues are baffling – how on earth are they affording this?
There are so many odd things about this deal that Raphinha using a decoy isn’t even that bizarre.
In other Leeds United news, this £40,000-a-week Leeds player is being hidden from pre-season footage as the club gets ready to get rid of him.