FC Barcelona Set To Recover Raphinha Money In Premier League Sale

FC Barcelona are aware that they can recover the money they invested in Raphinha by selling the winger to a PremierPINC
League club.

The Brazil international arrived at Camp Nou to great fanfare in the summer transfer window, for a fee believed to be in the region of around €60mn ($64mn).

Those with sharp memories will recall that Raphinha was on the verge of joining Chelsea, who had an offer accepted by his former club Leeds United.

Represented by Barca legend Deco, however, the 26-year-old held out for the Catalans to make a concrete approach for him made possible through the activation of an economic ‘lever’.

Raphinha has not been a complete flop in Spain with a not too paltry return of three goals and five assists.

To say he has hit the ground running would be an overstatement, though, and the Porto Alegre native has often failed to impress on the wing for first team coach Xavi Hernandez while also suffering a poor World Cup campaign in Qatar where he was outshone by positional rival Antony before the Selecao crashed out on penalties in the quarter-finals to Croatia.

On Tuesday morning, SPORT report that Barca hope Raphinha will grow and enjoy continuity in the first XI. If not, they are well aware that they could recover their outlay on him in the Premier League.

Routinely snubbed in favor of Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha does not have Xavi’s total confidence and has made just seven starts under him where he is often hooked around the hour mark.

While the midfield legend and his staff know that Raphinha boasts quality, “his adaptation is costing him and he has not made a difference”, SPORT says.

With previous suitors such as Chelsea and Arsenal, Raphinha would be easy to offload to the English top flight and is already adjusted to the league’s demands after a relegation battle last season with Leeds United.

If Barca need to lower their salary limit by almost €200mn ($214mn) as has been tipped, Raphinha could be one of the first stars on the chopping block should he fail to start delivering.