First things first, it’s worth pointing out how relatively quiet the Raphinha claims have gone in the Catalan media.
Often, when players are being linked with Barcelona, it all starts with a huge fanfare, big claims, and then quickly dies down. The claims with the Leeds United player started out with reports of a €35m offer, that personal terms had been agreed, and that Raphinha was Barca’s number one target.
This immediately seemed strange, because a wide player wasn’t seen as a priority for Barcelona before then. Reports elsewhere in Spain calmed thing down, and denied an offer had been made. It was then explained the Leeds United player is just an option and his signing is very unlikely if Ousmane Dembele finally signs a renewal.
Anyway, Saturday’s edition of Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo has a little bit on the situation, and they say ‘conversations are being held’ between Leeds and Barcelona, to try and find a reasonable price.
Barcelona want to include players, but this plan isn’t going very well. Firstly, Leeds United don’t seem especially keen, and, secondly, neither do the players involved.
Òscar Mingueza ‘would not consider this option’, and Sergiño Dest and Clément Lenglet, who have ‘also been proposed’, don’t want to leave, to join Leeds United or anyone else.
