European football expert Andy Brassell has told Sky Sports that he has questions over why Barcelona are signing Raphinha after Leeds United Football Club agreed terms to sell the Brazil forward.
Both the Whites and Blaugrana have confirmed that a deal has been agreed in principle for the 25-year-old to move to the Camp Nou. His transfer is dependent on the completion of a medical and will net the Elland Road outfit £49m, possibly rising to £58m, per talkSPORT.
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The deal represents quick profit for Leeds, who paid Stade Rennais £17m to sign Raphinha in October 2020. He has also returned the West Yorkshire club’s investment with 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 appearances, with each offered over 65 games in the Premier League.
Raphinha additionally worked his way into the Brazil set-up with his performances under Marcelo Bielsa after moving to England. He made his Selecao debut last October, and has so far amassed seven starts, three goals and two assists for his country over his nine caps.
Barcelona to sign Raphinha, but Brassell questions Leeds star at Camp Nou
Raphinha will join a stacked attack by signing for Barcelona, with the Leeds star set to play with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembele, Memphis Depay and potentially Robert Lewandowski. The Camp Nou outfit have made Bayern Munich an offer.
But Brassell questions why Barcelona are signing Raphinha as the Leeds forward does not tick all of their boxes. The level of competition for minutes in Catalunya is also a key issue.
“Raphinha is a huge signing for Barcelona but whether it’s the right one, I have my doubts,” he stated. “In other contexts you could say he’s a player with an incredible work rate, very creative, direct, scores goals, who can function in a number of different types of team.
“The concern, really, I think is twofold. Firstly, the fact they’ve got a lot of forward players anyway. So, why do they desperately need him? The second part of it is, I think, Raphinha is not at that elite level.
“If you were looking at someone who could capture the imagination of advertisers – and it’s horrible that we have to talk about this stuff, but it is the reality for a club like Barcelona – I don’t see how he ticks that box, either.”
Raphinha favoured Catalunya adventure over rival Premier League move
Raphinha has favoured signing for Barcelona over Premier League interest in the Leeds ace this summer. Mundo Deportivo report he will pen a five-year contract, having rejected bids by Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who were each willing to pay €75m (£63.5m).
However, his insistence was on an adventure in Catalunya, and should now have a chance to prove Brassell’s doubts were wrong by impressing under Xavi Hernandez going forward.
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