Before Leeds United secured their Premier League status, the Catalan stance on Raphinha is that he’d cost €25-30m if the Whites were in the Championship and more if they stayed in the top flight.
For reasons only known to those reporting it, it’s now somehow claimed, that despite Leeds United being PL guaranteed, Barcelona want to pay just €25m.
Friday’s edition of Sport covers this situation.
The Catalan newspaper states Raphinha would like to have his future sorted out soon, which goes without saying.
Barcelona and Leeds United are ‘far apart’ in their positions, because the Blaugrana are ‘committed to an operation’ worth €25m, and the Whites ‘want to take advantage of the situation’ and receive a ‘significantly’ higher figure.
Reading between the lines, there’s a reasonable chance that Deco, who has been representing Raphinha, presented a deal to Barcelona which was simply an unrealistic offer.
That may have been based on Deco assuming the club would be relegated, and without a clause there’s not a great deal he can 
do. This perhaps shows a certain arrogance and lack of experience.
Should Barcelona fail to pay what Leeds United want, and Raphinha stays, there’s no danger of him consciously dropping his performances, given the World Cup is just around the corner.
