Ronald Koeman has told Barcelona man Rafinha Alcantara that he would be better off leaving the Camp Nou amid reported interest from Leeds United, as reported by Tribal Football.
With just a few days remaining until the transfer window slams shut, the Brazil international must have felt that the chance to escape from his Catalonian purgatory had passed him by.
But, with Michael Cuisance’s move from Bayern Munich to Elland Road falling through at almost the very last second, Rafinha might have been handed fresh hope at the perfect time.
Leeds held talks with the 2015 Champions League winner a month ago, according to Sport, with Barcelona ready and willing to sell Thiago’s younger brother for £14 million; less than the Whites were set to pay for a man who started a grand total of four Bundesliga games in the last two seasons.
“For players who do not see many possibilities (to play), it is better to look for a way out,” Koeman said when asked about Rafinha’s future.
“I know Rafinha has been on loan (at Celta Vigo and Inter Milan) and there is a point where you can’t be loaned every season. We have a lot of midfielders, we have to find the best for the team.
“These are technical decisions.”
The 27-year-old will be a free agent next summer and, given that he has fallen well down the pecking order, Barcelona would jump at the chance to sell an unwanted player rather than lose him for nothing in 2021.
Marcelo Bielsa demands remarkable levels of technical quality from his midfielders, so who better than a player who learned the art of the high press and Cruyffian domination at the famous La Masia academy?
Leeds United’s record transfers
- Rodrigo (2020)
£26 million
- Raphinha
£21 million (2020)
- Rio Ferdinand (2000)
£18 million
- Diego Llorente (2020)
£18 million
- Helder Costa (2020)
£16 million
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