Raphinha Transfer – After Dragging Leeds to Premier League Safety Where Is Raphinha Possibly Moving To?

Raphinha took the Premier League by storm, scoring 11 goals and being a talisman for a poor Leeds side. From being a provider in his first season, he became the main man in the absence of Bamford. On the season’s final day, he even scored the goal that ultimately kept Leeds in the league.

He has well and truly proved he could cut it at this level, and it seems like it’s the right time for him to make the step up to a bigger club. A great first touch, pace to beat anyone in a foot race and great dribbling ability – he’s got it all in his locker.

While his assists dried up, his goals increased. If he had better players around him, he certainly would have the potential to become a world-beater.

The Biggest Rumour: Barcelona

Dembele’s imminent departure from Barcelona leaves a gap on the right wing for which there aren’t any players at Barca who currently fit the role naturally. Barca had shown a lot of interest in the Brazilian winger, with reports of this transfer emerging even before the season was over. Based on what we have seen from Raphinha, it would be a coup for Barca if they could get it done for a good price.

Raphinha would add some much-needed creativity to this Barca team and he’d go a long way in replacing Dembele. Linking up with the likes of Aubameyang, Depay, Fati, and Frenkie de Jong would be a great sight.

A potential frontline of Ferran, Aubameyang, and Raphinha would get every Barca fan excited and Xavi could do wonders with such a star-studded team. Brazilians and Barcelona already have a storied history, and Raphinha could be the next chapter of that glorious love story.

Wildcard option: Manchester United

Eric ten Hag has quite the job on his hands. A host of players have departed, giving him ample room to sign the players he wants. Raphinha looks like the ideal candidate for the right-wing role at United. While it was thought that Sancho would occupy that scape, he plays more often on the left and having just Elanga on the right won’t be enough for United if they want to finish in the top 4.

Raphinha would add some much-needed speed to the United attack and would fit well in a team that likes to play on the counter. He has that typical Brazilian flair so beating a defender in a 1v1 situation is often too easy for him. He likes staying close to the touchline, which could allow United to stretch defences and create space for the likes of Bruno Fernandes & Ronaldo.

Signing Raphinha would be an astute move by Ten Hag, and United could get the deal over the line for a relatively modest price, however, Leeds could play hardball given that they’re selling to another Premier League side.

United’s signings over the past 4 to 5 seasons haven’t been able to deliver to the club’s expectations bar a few exceptions, so it remains to be seen as to whether Raphinha can perform as expected at United or also underwhelm. However, given his skill set and attributes, he could be just the signing the Red Devils need.