‘Above all Chelsea’ – Incoming chief well aware of Blues’ signing interest, player’s sale can ‘benefit’ club

On May 8th, Sport reported Chelsea are ‘on pole’ to sign Barcelona’s Raphinha and have already started talks over a potential deal.

The 26-year-old’s representative, Deco, is set to become the La Liga side’s new sporting director. He will have to give up his role as an agent before taking up the post at the Camp Nou.

Sport state Deco will take the player out of Barca ‘only if necessary’. If that were to happen, Chelsea are mentioned as one of his options.

Xavi Hernández’s side must raise funds to register contract extensions and bring in new players. The incoming Barcelona chief has been meeting Mateu Alemany to understand the movements needed to be carried out first.

In the first meeting, Deco has decided to bet on the Brazil international, who is also ‘not too amused’ at the possibility of him leaving the Catalan club. At the same time, he has also communicated internally that if ‘absolutely necessary’, the player ‘will leave Barca for a lot of millions’.

Deco knows more than anyone about the clubs that are keen to sign the ex-Leeds United man, with ‘Chelsea, above all’. He’s also aware of the ‘benefit’ Barca could have from Raphinha’s sale in the summer.

After taking over the new role at the Camp Nou, Deco is capable of convincing the attacker to accept the transfer to another club, if necessary.

For now, Raphinha will continue at Barca but anything could happen in this case in the upcoming window.