Report: Leeds baulk at Barcelona’s £14m asking price when offered chance to sign Rafinha

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According to Mundo Deportivo, Leeds United have baulked at the chance to sign Barcelona midfielder Rafinha when they learned of his £14 million asking price.

The brother of Thiago Alcantara has been heavily linked with a Barca exit.

Rafinha spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo. However, the La Liga club can’t afford to pay his buyout fee inserted into the deal to take him permanently.

Barcelona, who are looking to make big changes, are keen to sell him.

A report earlier on Saturday from Sport claimed Leeds had opened talks for him.

But now Mundo Deportivo say the newly-promoted Premier League club have taken a step back after being unable to match Barcelona’s £14 million asking price.

Leeds have already spent big this summer, bringing in Rodrigo from Valencia, Robin Koch from Freiburg and Illan Meslier from Lorient among others.

The Whites haven’t been afraid to spend as they seek to establish themselves in the top-flight this season. But the club are evidently working with a budget in mind.

Rafinha, 27, is a two-capped Brazil international. He has been at Barcelona for almost a decade, idolising the likes of club legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

But now seems like the time to move on and earn a regular spot elsewhere.

The previous report by Sport claims he eyes a move to England, but as of yet, Barca haven’t found a willing buyer to take him away from the Nou Camp.