Barcelona has faced significant financial struggles in recent years, which has led to speculation about the sale of some of their star players. While Barcelona has been linked with potential high-profile departures, including Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde, and Ferran Torres, the club has managed to retain most of their key assets. Over the years, notable departures have included Ousmane Dembele to PSG for £44m, Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for £20m, and Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa for £17m. The most painful departure was that of Lionel Messi, who left the club on a free transfer due to financial constraints.
Recently, Raphinha, Barcelona’s talented Brazilian winger, has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Despite this interest, Barcelona remains firm in its stance that Raphinha is not for sale. The 27-year-old, who joined Barcelona from Leeds United for £55 million, has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 8 assists in 23 appearances, with performances that have earned him comparisons to Ballon d’Or level players.
Raphinha’s outstanding performances have made him a highly sought-after player, with Premier League clubs keen to add him to their squads in January. However, Barcelona has dismissed the possibility of selling Raphinha, despite facing issues with registering Dani Olmo, another high-profile summer signing. To resolve Olmo’s registration issues, Barcelona is working on increasing revenue through a new deal with Nike, which would also ensure that Raphinha is not forced to leave the club.
For clubs like Arsenal, who have faced concerns about over-relying on Bukayo Saka, and Liverpool, where Mohamed Salah’s future remains uncertain, Raphinha would be an ideal signing. However, with Barcelona intent on keeping him, it appears that the Brazilian winger will continue his journey at Camp Nou for the foreseeable future.
