Barcelona star keen on PL return; club willing to sell player for around £50m - Reports
Barcelona midfielder Raphinha reportedly wants to return to the Premier League. The 27-year-old Brazilian joined the club from Leeds United in the summer of 2022.
Raphinha has had a decent start to his stint at the Camp Nou, contributing 20 goals and 25 assists in 87 appearances across competitions. That includes 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 games last season as the Blaugrana endured a trophyless campaign, but he started just 25 times.
Despite being contracted with the Camp Nou outfit till 2027, the Brazilian apparently desires a Premier League return, as reported by Graeme Bailey (HITC via AFCstuff).
The report also adds that the Blaugrana could demand close to £50 million for the player - a former Newcastle United target - who has seemingly become surplus to requirements.
In his first season at the Camp Nou, Raphinha won the La Liga - the club's first league title in four years - and the Supercopa Espana, where they beat Real Madrid in the final.
It's pertinent to note that owing to their well-documented financial woes, Barca are looking to offload players permanently and revamp their roster.
A look at Barcelona's 2023-24 season
Barcelona endured an underwhelming 2023-24 season after a bright start as they failed to win any silverware. Their La Liga title defence was ended by their arch-rivals Real Madrid - who finished 10 points clear of second-placed Barca.
Xavi's side also lost to Los Blancos in the Supercopa Espana final before getting dumped out of the Copa del Rey in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Athletic Bilbao.
A similar fate awaited them in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Leading 3-2 from the first leg at PSG, Xavi's side opened the scoring at home to lead 4-2 on aggregate.
However, Ronald Araujo's red card changed the complexion of the game, as Luis Enrique's visitors scored four unanswered goals to storm into the last-four, where they would lose 2-0 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund.