FC Barcelona winger Raphinha will open potential transfer talks with Al-Hilal after the World Cup according to Mundo Deportivo and Globoesporte, who cited anonymous sources.
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FC Barcelona winger Raphinha will open potential transfer talks with Al-Hilal after the World Cup according to Mundo Deportivo and Globoesporte, who cited anonymous sources.
The Catalan paper has explained how both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are prepared to quadruple the Brazilian’s current salary.
As per Spanish transfer site Fichajes, that’s $19.4 million (€16.68 million) a season on a deal that expires two years and a fortnight from now on June 30, 2028.
Out of the two Saudi Pro League giants, though, Al-Hilal, which owns Joao Cancelo, is going after Raphinha the hardest.
Globoesporte says that the club which Neymar also passed through wants to unsettle Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr by returning to the top of the domestic game.
In order to lure the 29-year-old, it will offer Raphinha an astounding $197.5 million (€170 million) on a two-year deal.
FC Barcelona legend Raphinha will listen to Al-Hilal after the World Cup
The Brazilian outlet adds that Raphinha is already aware of this life-changing proposal.
He’s asked Al-Hilal’s top brass to talk about it after the World Cup, however, in news that might be a worry to Culers.
Following Brazil’s opening Group C draw with Morocco on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium, Raphinha has come under intense scrutiny from his compatriots.
There’s a general feeling that while his exploits in the Spotify Camp Nou have made him a Ballon d’Or contender, Raphinha is still yet to deliver in the yellow and green jersey of the five-time world champions.
Starting negotiations with Al-Hilal now would be disruptive, as Raphinha and Brazil look to put the 1-1 Morocco tie behind them and get back to winning ways against Haiti on Friday.
While at this moment in time unappreciated by Brazilians, Raphinha is a legend in Catalonia.
He took some time to kick on following a high profile 2022 transfer from Leeds United, but he’s been transformed under Hansi Flick.
Together, the pair have won back-to-back La Liga titles and five out of six trophies on offer in Spain across the past two seasons.
The Champions League has eluded them, and it seems difficult to believe that “Rapha” would ditch the Blaugrana before bringing the big-eared trophy to its fans for the first time since 2015.
Last month, however, we saw Barcelona land Anthony Gordon in an $80 million (€70 million) transfer which means he will have permanent competition for the left wing slot moving forward.
That was previously temporary with Marcus Rashford around. As reported last week, however, the Catalans have passed on the chance to sign the Manchester United-owned forward permanently.
On Monday June 15th, FC Barcelona’s option to obtain Rashford for $35 million (€30 million) expired. As a consequence, he’ll return to his boyhood club following the World Cup – which is reportedly the timeframe Raphinha has set to open talks with Al-Hilal.