La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly considering selling underperforming 26-year-old attacker Raphinha next year.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Raphinha faces a crucial second half of the season. The underperforming 26-year-old faces an uncertain future at Spotify Camp Nou, with Barcelona considering cashing in on him. And the Catalan giants have also identified potential replacements.
Raphinha was a hot property in the market after guiding Leeds United to safety in the 2021/22 season. Several Premier League clubs were keen on signing the Brazilian international, with Arsenal and Chelsea coming close at different stages. But he eventually chose to join Barcelona instead of his other suitors.
The 26-year-old started the 2022/23 season strongly, producing some game-changing displays. But Raphinha’s performance levels have deteriorated in the last few weeks. And a tally of two goals and four assists in 18 appearances is hardly impressive for a big-money signing. In addition, he did not have a solid campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup either.
Raphinha was the first-choice right-winger for Brazil but did not produce a single goal or an assist in Qatar. And he was listless in the quarter-finals as Croatia booted the Selecao out of the World Cup. The underperforming 26-year-old now returns to Barcelona, hoping to rediscover his best form and get his season back on track.
The former Leeds United talisman needs to get back to his best performance levels because the Catalan giants are considering selling him. The decision might be surprising, but the Brazilian international is one of the most bankable assets for Barcelona. And with the Blaugrana struggling on the financial front, a sale might be a bright idea.
Barcelona will also have Financial Fair Play implications to think about while approaching the summer transfer window. And selling Raphinha will enable Barcelona to balance the books. In addition, Ferran Torres also faces a crucial second half of the season. Meanwhile, the Catalan giants have a few candidates on their radar to replace Raphinha.
Players like Gabriel Martinelli, Marcus Thuram, and Moussa Diaby have emerged as targets. And Thuram might be an ideal candidate for Barcelona as he is approaching the end of his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach. As for Raphinha, it will be interesting to see if the underperforming 26-year-old will secure his future.
