Leeds United and Brazilian star Raphinha have reportedly traveled to Barcelona to finalize his transfer with the Spanish giants ahead of next season.
The 25-year-old Brazilian winger decided to miss out on the pre-season tour with Leeds United as he was training in their Thorp Arch training ground in anticipation of his move to Spain.
Raphinha is now waiting for Barça to register him as a new player before his transfer can be confirmed. The Spanish giants have prepared a five-year contract for the player meaning he will stay with them until 2027.
Barcelona have also extended the contract of their winger Ousmane Dembele until 2024 worth up to £8.4m a year after tax. However, they need clearance from La Liga authorities in order to make it official.
Raphinha has an impressive 2021/22 campaign with Leeds United in which he scored 9 goals in 27 English Premier League games and also helped them to escape relegation.
The Brazilian player also got his first international call-up last season because of his performance and could be with the team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Note that the Brazilian still has two years left in his contract with Leeds United but prefers to leave this summer for FC Barcelona.
Raphinha travels to Barcelona to complete dream move to the Nou Camp while the club also hand Ousmane Dembele a new contract https://t.co/FjTa9bCZOy
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) July 13, 2022
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in signing the winger but he desires to play for Barcelona next season. Raphinha’s decision to join Barca would be a slap on the faces of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and their new owner Todd Boehly who were very close to landing the 25-year-old.
Although Chelsea are expected to announce Man City’s Raheem Sterling as their player this week, Thomas Tuchel still wanted Raphinha as he looks to strengthen his team.
As mentioned earlier, FC Barcelona have also renewed Ousmane Dembele’s contract to the disappointment of Chelsea which wanted to secure the signature of the Frenchman this summer.
Recall that, Barca and Dembele’s representatives had been discussing a new contract but struggled to reach an agreement which led to his contract expiration on June 30, 2022.
This made him a free agent but he decided not to leave and ask for a renewal.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has always valued wingers since he became the club’s coach last season and he fought to make sure that Ousmane Dembele remains at Barca.
The Spanish giants will now focus on signing Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski or Manchester City’s star player Bernardo Silva.
Robert Lewandowski who has just one year left in his contract with Bayern Munich has revealed that he wants to leave this summer. However, the German champions are not ready to release him but Barcelona will keep pushing for his signature before the end of the transfer window.
