Hansi Flick has made a decision on whether to sell Leeds favorite Raphinha to Barcelona

However, his two years at Leeds catapulted him into the limelight. A star of Marcelo Bielsa’s side that finished ninth in the Premier League in their first season after promotion, Raphinha stayed on for another year.

He scored in the crucial 2–1 win over Brentford to keep Leeds at the end of the second season, his last game for Leeds. Raphinha finished with statistics of 17 goals and 12 assists in 69, earning a move to Barcelona.

Raphinha has since had criticism at the Nou Camp, but the numbers are solid. The 22-time Brazil star still had 45 goals in his 87 games for Barcelona, ​​with 23 involvements coming in the 2023-24 term.

Interest in Raphinha and Flick decision ahead of summer window

Indeed, some have criticized Raphinha’s output in the final third at Barcelona. After the first few months, it was claimed that Barcelona were confused by his form in training, which did not transfer to matches.

But now Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has posted an update on Raphinha’s future, with clubs in Saudi Arabia looking to take him to the Middle East this summer for huge wages.

Plettenberg reports that former Bayern and Germany boss Flick has decided to keep Raphinha at Barca and make him a key player for next season amid interest in his services ahead of the 2024-25 season.

“Flick has included Raphinha firmly in his plans. He considers the winger a potential key player. Many clubs are interested, especially in Saudi Arabia. A final decision has not yet been made. Contract valid until 2027.”

What Raphinha’s agent said about offers from Arsenal and Chelsea

Barcelona weren’t the only parties interested in signing Raphinha from Leeds as early as 2022. The summer Jesse Marsch spent the money raised by Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips on so many bad signings.

Deco, who is now Barcelona’s sporting director, was Raphinha’s agent at the time of the move to Barca. He has since said that Arsenal and Chelsea have made bigger offers than Barcelona to raid Leeds for Raphinha.

But Andrea Radrizzani had promised Raphinha a move to the Nour Camp. In the case of these bigger offers in London, Radrizzani tried to renege on that promise – in true Radrizzani style – but failed.

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