Barcelona face a huge temptation after a Saudi powerhouse tables eye-watering €120 million offer for their prized attacking star.
The bid—€100m fixed plus €20m in add-ons—arrives as Hansi Flick’s side tops La Liga and hunts Champions League glory, with Joan Laporta’s board facing a pivotal crossroads between immediate cash injection and squad stability.
The team offers 100m in Neon SC, whose ambition to build a marquee project around a proven performer underscores the Saudi Pro League’s growing pull.
That winger is Raphinha, Barcelona’s 28-year-old Brazilian dynamo whose resurgence under Flick has yielded 15 goals and 12 assists this season, including clutch strikes against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as reported by Fichajes.
Signed for €58m from Leeds in 2022, Raphinha has transformed into a versatile leader on the right flank, complementing Lamine Yamal and proving indispensable in Flick’s high-pressing system.
His renewed deal until 2028 includes a gentleman’s agreement easing potential Saudi exits post-2026 World Cup, but sources confirm he’s fully committed to Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s rejection was swift and unequivocal: “not for sale,” per club insiders, prioritising sporting project over profit.
Laporta views Raphinha as a pillar alongside Pedri and Yamal, rejecting even eye-watering sums that could fund Lewandowski’s successor or midfield reinforcements.
Flick’s personal intervention—echoing his 2024 persuasion—has cemented the player’s loyalty, with Raphinha dismissing exit rumours as “baseless.”
Neom SC’s audacious play follows failed Al-Hilal pursuits, aiming to pair the Brazilian with stars like Neymar.
Yet Barcelona’s stance signals evolution: no longer fire-selling assets mid-campaign. Holding firm bolsters Flick’s momentum but tests FFP limits as January nears.
Raphinha’s form—Ballon d’Or whispers included—positions him for legacy-defining years at Barcelona, rebuffing Middle East riches.
Neom SC retreat empty-handed, but Saudi riches will circle again—leaving Raphinha poised for glory at Camp Nou.
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