Barcelona receive €65m offer from Saudi Arabia for Arsenal target: Reports
Barcelona have reportedly received an offer of €65 million for midfielder Raphinha - an Arsenal target - from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club. The Brazilian has been at the Camp Nou since 2022 but has had an up-and-down stint.
He has made 87 appearances across competitions, contributing 20 goals and 25 assists. That includes 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 games across competitions last campaign - starting 25 - as Barca endured a trophyless campaign.
Despite being contracted to the Camp Nou till 2027, the 27-year-old has been linked with an exit, with a Premier League return with Arsenal widely mooted. As per FCBLive (via Barca Times), an unnamed Saudi Arabian side has also entered the fray by submitting a bid of €65 million.
Raphinha is coming off a 2024 Copa America campaign with Brazil, scoring once in four games as the Selecao lost 4-2 on penalties to Uruguay.
The midfielder has bagged seven goals and six assists in 27 senior games for the five-time FIFA World Cup champions since his debut in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in March 2021, bagging two assists in a 3-1 away win over Venezuela.
How Barcelona fared in the 2023-24 season
Barcelona are coming off a rather underwhelming 2023-24 season following the highs of the previous season, winning their first La Liga title in four years and also winning the Supercopa Espana.
However, Xavi's side faltered across competitions last season. After a bright start, they fell off the pace, eventually finishing behind their arch-rivals Real Madrid in the league.
Barca also lost to Los Blancos in the Supercopa Espana final. Moreover, they fell in the quarter-finals in both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. In the latter competition, they led 4-2 on aggregate at home before Ronald Araujo's red card saw PSG score four unanswered goals to reach the last-four.
With Xavi leaving at the end of the season, former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick has taken over. Can the former Germany tactician guide the Blaugrana back to their heyday?