Raphinha spent three years at Leeds United, during which time he made a name for himself playing for the Whites and in the Premier League. Nonetheless, his name is in the rumor mill, but that might be quickly going away.
The Brazilian played 67 matches in all competitions for the English club. His impressive performances eventually caught the eye of FC Barcelona, leading to his departure from Elland Road in 2022.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that Tottenham Hotspur has “always appreciated” Raphinha, who has been at the center of intense transfer rumors this summer, especially regarding a potential move from Barcelona.
“Raphinha has always been attractive to several clubs, not only in Europe, when Barcelona signed him from Leeds there was interest from Chelsea and interest from Arsenal,” Romano told his YouTube channel. “He’s always been a player of interest for Tottenham, they have always appreciated him.”
Raphinha is under contract with the Spanish side until 2027, but this season, the Brazilian has found his footing under new manager Hansi Flick. The 27-year-old has scored five goals and recorded three assists in eight matches across all competitions.
Former Leeds standout Raphinha isn’t returning to England?
Amid the rumors and Barcelona’s financial situation, especially after having difficulty registering Dani Olmo, could some players be sold next summer to fund a transfer pursuit?
Nonetheless, the La Liga side could be looking to keep the former Leeds ace for the foreseeable future. Diario SPORT reports that Barcelona wants to extend Raphinha’s contract. It doesn’t appear that the Catalan side won’t be looking to sell high on the player rather he could be part of Flick’s long-term plans.
🚨 Barcelona want to extend the contract of Raphinha. ✍️🇧🇷
(Source: @sport) pic.twitter.com/BOT1xy0QgW
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 27, 2024
Over the past three years, Raphinha has experienced a rollercoaster journey, featuring in 95 matches and contributing 25 goals and 28 assists. He also added two trophies to his name, winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey during the 2022-23 season.
If Raphinha had made a return to the Premier League with Tottenham or another club, it would have been a bittersweet moment for Leeds supporters, especially if the Whites manage to secure promotion to England’s top flight for the 2025-26 season.
