Raphinha slams 'lies' following reports of move away from Barcelona
Raphinha slams ‘lies’ in furious Instagram post following reports he had been allowed to leave Barcelona in the summer – a year after signing for £55m – amid links to Newcastle and Chelsea
- The winger made the move from Leeds to join the Blaugrana in summer of 2022
- Barcelona must urgently offload players as they seek to participate in window
- Barca can offer Messi everything but money and the Saudis nothing but that
Raphinha has hit back at speculation that he is set to leave Barcelona after just one season at the Camp Nou in a string of impassioned Instagram posts.
The former Leeds ace has had an inconsistent start to life in Catalonia but has found form as the Blaugrana’s LaLiga-winning campaign has drawn to a close.
The winger is said to be in the sights of a number of Premier League clubs after he was believed to be one of the players considered for sale during the upcoming transfer window.
Due to their dire financial straits, Barcelona must raise £178million should they wish to participate in the window and register players – some of whom, such as teenage superstar Gavi – already feature regularly for the Catalan side.
But the Brazilian has strongly rebuffed claims that he will be included in Barcelona’s impending fire sale in a sharply-worded run of Instagram comments.
The Brazil star hit back at speculation that he ‘okay’d’ a move away from Barcelona this summer
In his native Portuguese, Raphinha decried ‘unprofessional liars’ as he responded to the report
Replying to a post by Brazilian sports outlet Fanaticos that hinted that the player was being lined up for a potential move, Raphinha called the report a ‘lie’.
‘Lie,’ the forward began, adding a winking emoji. ‘The person who said this is a liar and uninformed.’
Believing his initial comment deleted, Raphinha went on to add: ‘Lie, once again, this [report] is a lie. And whoever said that is a liar, uninformed and unprofessional.
‘If my comment is deleted, I will post it on my Instagram,’ he finished emphatically.
Despite his wishes, Raphinha could yet find himself on the brink of a move away due to Barcelona’s increasingly stark financial situation.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta had previously stated that the club would make cuts to their wage bill to ensure market activity but LaLiga boss Javier Tebas poured cold water on the idea in March.
Raphinha has no interest in leaving the Camp Nou and would instead stay and prove himself to his manager Xavi (right)
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are said to be interested in signing Raphinha, as is Todd Boehly, who missed out on the player with Chelsea last summer
As well as slashing wages, Barcelona will also look to offload a number of players, said to include Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Franck Kessie, and Eric Garcia, in part in a bid to secure club legend Lionel Messi.
Fati – who was handed Messi’s talismanic No 10 after the World Cup winner made his tearful exit in 2021 – is also said to be against a move as he looks to prove himself after a recent dip in a form.
Despite an up-and-down season Raphinha is still being keenly pursued, with Mail Sport reporting that Newcastle are said to have offered a £60m verbal bid for the player.
Chelsea, who came close to signing the player last summer but ultimately failed, are also believed to have rekindled their interest.
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