Leeds United thought that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could sign Raphinha before he moved to Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic.
The Athletic have reported that Arsenal made a bid of £35 million for the Brazil international winger, which Leeds turned down.
Former Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa reportedly gave Arsenal ‘a glowing reference about him, extolling Raphinha’s virtues’.
The report has claimed that ‘for a while Leeds expected Raphinha’s future to come down to a fight’ between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham wanted to sign Raphinha as well, but some at Leeds felt that the winger did not fancy playing as a wing-back under Antonio Conte.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea had a bid for the 25-year-old winger accepted by Leeds, but the former Rennes star eventually moved to Barcelona for an initial £49 million (Sky Sports).
Raphinha would have been great for Arsenal
In our opinion, Raphinha – described as “an exciting player” and “special” by Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta on COPE’s Great Match show this month – would have been a great signing for Arsenal and would make the Gunners more potent in attack.
The winger scores goals, creates chances and works hard defensively, and his pace and quality on the ball would have wowed the Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium.
Raphinha scored 17 goals and created 22 big chances in 65 appearances for Leeds in the Premier League.
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