Leeds United avoiding relegation has upset Barcelona’s plans for Raphinha. The Catalan club could have taken him for €25-30m had the Whites dropped from the Premier League.
The La Liga side haven’t given up on the winger and their director of football, Mateu Alemany, ‘will travel’ to England to hold talks with the Whites.
That’s according to Sport, who explain that Leeds United are demanding €65m for their star. This is the first barrier the Blaugrana chief has to break during the meeting with the English club.
Barca had initially put the operation to sign the Brazil international on hold as they were waiting to see where Jesse Marsch’s side would finish the season. This didn’t Leeds United CEO, Angus Kinnear.
Alemany needs to regain a ‘good negotiating climate’ with Leeds, which the player’s agent, Deco, ‘diligently started months ago’. The representative has stepped aside now and the new contacts will be between the leaders of the two clubs.
The Whites have valued their player at €65m, while Xavi Hernández’s side are willing to pay around €40m. Due to Barcelona’s financial conditions, Alemany has a tough task on his hands to sign Raphinha.
Alemany not only has to take the transfer fee into account, which he needs to negotiate with Leeds, but also try to fit the attacker into Barca’s wage structure.
Raphinha’s ‘commitment to the Blaugrana is unbreakable’. He is not ready to 
listen to offers from Premier League clubs. This is done to stop Leeds carrying out an auction for him and making the deal even more expensive for Barca.
It is down to Barca and the Whites to find an agreement to carry out the signing.
Alemany has a meeting scheduled with Leeds’ leaders in England and time should tell how this case will progress.
