Raphinha spent two years at Leeds United before leaving them for Barcelona in July 2022.
He had mixed performances in the first two years before starting to shine for Barcelona this season. Hansi Flick’s arrival last summer has been a major factor for the forward’s revival at the Camp Nou.
The former Leeds United star has scored 32 goals and registered 25 assists from 53 games in all competitions for Barcelona this season.
On Tuesday, Inter Milan overcame Barca to secure a place in the Champions League final. Prior to kick-off at the San Siro, Eurosport in France had a chat with Lille president Olivier Létang about the 28-year-old.
Létang was president at Stade Rennais when they signed the Brazil international from Sporting in 2019. He managed eight goals and seven assists in his first season in France and was sold to Leeds.
Stade Rennais relieved Létang from his duties in February 2020, months before Raphinha moved to Elland Road. The Lille president now admits the player was pushed out of the Ligue 1 club.
When asked about Raphinha’s sale to Leeds, he said: “The version is very clear. Raphinha wanted to stay at Rennes and play in the Champions League. He was pushed out.
“I remember the day he called me, in shock, saying: ‘My president, they want me to leave.’ He was very, very disappointed. But once he understood what was going on behind the scenes, he no longer wanted to play for certain people.
“The scene on the sidelines after the match against Reims [Editor’s note: the day of Raphinha’s last match for Rennes, where the player is seen in the stands, surrounded by Damien Da Silva and Romain Salin, who seem to be trying to convince him to stay] was quite comical, in full view of the media… When you know what really happened.”
The Whites paid €17m excluding bonuses to sign the South American. Eurosport asked the French club’s president whether it was a ‘real mistake’ to sell him to Leeds for cheap.
“I think that based on his career, which, once again, is no surprise given his qualities and mentality, the answer is very simple. I’m convinced he would have had a fantastic second season with Stade Rennais if he had stayed,” Létang explained.
