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£17m Leeds man could follow in Kalvin Phillips’ footsteps – Our View

Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

If Raphinha plays his cards right at Leeds, he could follow in the footsteps of Kalvin Phillips.

In what sense? Well, the Yorkshire Pirlo recently made his international debut for England due to his heroics for Leeds, and we feel that the flamboyant winger could also earn similar recognition if he plays well.

Of course, Tite’s Brazil squad is packed full of talent, such as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison.

However, there is surely an opening for Raphinha if he bosses things in the Premier League.

After all, Everton Ribeiro has been called into Tite’s latest squad, and he’s playing his football in the Brazilian Série A. No disrespect to Brazil’s top-flight, but the Premier League is substantially more competitive and filled with a higher quality of player.

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Additionally, it’s not like Raphinha is a complete stranger to top-level football.

In recent years, the 23-year-old has commanded significant transfer fees.

Firstly, he joined Rennes from Sporting Lisbon for €20 million (£17.8 million), before moving again just a year later when completing his £17 million move to Leeds.

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Marcelo Bielsa is still easing Raphinha in, and is yet to start his mercurial winger in the Premier League.

However, once he shows England what he can do, there’s no reason why Tite wouldn’t reward him with a debut for his country.