Victor Orta hits out at Fabrizio Romano as he speaks out about Leeds United ace Raphinha
Victor Orta has addressed the speculation surrounding Raphinha’s future at Leeds United and a potential move to Barcelona.
It’s been widely reported that Barca are in hot pursuit of the 25-year-old winger with some Spanish outlets even reporting he’s agreed personal terms to join the La Liga club [Sport].
There have also been rumours about release clauses in his contract with Guardian journalist Fabrizio Romano repeatedly saying that there’s a £63.4million (€75million) buy-out clause in the Brazil international’s deal.
Leeds’ director of football Orta has seemingly hit out at Romano for his inaccurate reporting while the Spaniard has also discussed his relationship with the attacker’s agent Deco and a potential move away from Elland Road.
“Raphinha doesn’t have a clause if we stay in the Premier League,” Orta told Radio Marca, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“I say this because a transfer guru said the other day that he had a clause for an amount and he doesn’t.
“Sometimes the transfer guru is wrong.
“He doesn’t have a clause if we stay in the Premier League.
“When the player knocked on the door of Leeds, the first thing I said to him was, ‘you’re going to invite me to the World Cup in Qatar’.
“And he looked stupid, he didn’t believe it.
“We’ve been meeting our goals and the player knows that Leeds and his coaching staff, who have collaborated a lot, and the club has helped his figure grow and has responded with great quality, being a differential player in the league.
“He has to continue doing the same and in summer, when the time comes, I’m sure there’s time for everything.”
Orta added: “Fortunately, Raphinha’s career management is carried out by a top-level player who knows how to handle this, which is Deco.
“I have had several conversations with Deco.
“Deco helps me and I can’t say that everyone helps.
“In this case, Deco knows that the current objective of the team that bet on his footballer has only one name: save himself and stay in the Premier League.
“Everything that is of the future will come.”
Romano rubbished
It’s no wonder that Romano changed his tune on Twitter on Tuesday [29 March].
Orta said that the Radio Marca on the same day that Romano went back on his word about Raphinha’s release clause.
Romano now claims that the only clause in Raphinha’s contract will become active if the Whites are relegated and that the Premier League clause doesn’t exist.
Funny, that.
Leeds’ local media always maintained there’s no active release clause in his contract but there was no backtracking by Romano but now Orta’s come out all guns blazing, he’s done so.
Either way, enough about misreporting facts, Raphinha probably won’t be a Leeds player next season and we’ve started to become accustomed to that fact.
All we want is for the club to get a fair fee for the winger.
Hopefully, Deco’s relationship over Orta isn’t an influence over Leeds’ director of football. Otherwise, Barca could be getting themselves a steal.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites can finally get rid of this “stinking” 29-year-old with a free transfer likely in the summer.