BREAKING: Barcelona winger could be transferred listed in the summer if performances do not improve
Six months into his debut season at FC Barcelona, Raphinha could already be fighting for his future at the club.
The Brazilian international was signed by the Blaugrana amidst much fanfare, as they fought off interest from Chelsea and Arsenal to land him from Leeds United in a deal worth €58 million, plus €9 million in add-ons.
However, Raphinha has failed to hit the strides so far in his tenure at Camp Nou. There have been fleeting glimpses of his quality but they have come few and far between, raising questions about his adaptability and consistency.
And now, Joaquim Piera of SPORT is reporting that Barcelona will consider putting Raphinha up for sale if his performances do not improve over the second half of the season.
The 26-year-old has played 27 times in all competitions this term, scoring four goals and setting up seven more. While those are decent numbers, there has been a lack of consistency in the winger's performances.
It has been chalked up to the winger's adaptation period at the club, but given the situation that Barcelona are in, when it comes to finances, they will need to make one or more big sales in the summer to achieve Financial Fair Play.
And, as per the report, the Catalans believe that it will be easier for them to offload Raphinha and recoup most of what they invested in the winger rather than selling to someone like Ferran Torres.
The Brazilian winger remains highly coveted in the Premier League, with Arsenal even showing concrete interest this month.
So, it is now up to Raphinha to prove that he deserves to stay at Barcelona for longer than just one season.
With Ousmane Dembele out injured, the 26-year-old is set to become a regular fixture on the right flank, his preferred position, in the coming matches. And, he will now need to step up and deliver in a crucial juncture of the season or face the prospect of being sold in the summer.
Tags:
SPORTS NEWS