Fichajes are reporting that Marcelo Bielsa has already picked out a replacement should Raphinha leave the club in the summer window.
Whilst the Brazilian making a quick exit seems unlikely, especially at the prices being passed around in reports, it would represent a big profit for Leeds United so can’t be ruled out.
Shortly after his transfer from Rennes, Raphinha spoke to the Brazilian media and revealed he’d cost Leeds United €45m less than he’d been told the asking price would be.
Clearly annoyed with how the Ligue 1 club went about things, he was quoted as saying:
“I played on Sunday and, after the match, they put the whole responsibility on me, on leaving.
“Until Saturday, at noon, I was focused on the game. The transfer window was closed, I knew that nothing more would happen. And I was told that Rennes would only sell me for an offer of 60 million euros, but they sold me for 15 million. I felt devalued.”
The 24-year-old clearly has big ambitions, yet another season at Elland Road may well be the best move for his career.
Regardless, talk has already turned to his replacement, with Fichajes saying ‘the chosen one’ for Bielsa is Douglas Costa.
The 30-year-old is currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Juventus and is clearly a bit-part player with the German side. His Juve contract lasts until June 2022, so he’ll have a year left come the summer.
Given he turns 31 in September and is on big wages, he doesn’t really seem like the type of player Victor Orta would be looking for, and that’s even if Raphinha leaves.
