Earlier this week, it emerged that even if Barcelona were to offload one of their standout players, such as Ronald Araujo, for €100 million, it would not fully alleviate their financial fair play (FFP) concerns. While this sale would provide some relief, the club would still need to part ways with two or three significant figures and finalize the sale of Barça Studios to achieve a balanced budget in La Liga.
Consequently, the primary focus for Barcelona is to sell players. While Araujo is unlikely to depart, there are other valuable assets within the squad that could be sold to generate funds, aiding the club in the short and medium term.
One such player on the market is Raphinha. Barcelona may consider allowing him to leave this summer, particularly given Lamine Yamal’s emergence. Chelsea, Tottenham, and Al-Hilal are reportedly keen on acquiring Raphinha, according to SPORT.
Last summer, Raphinha came close to departing when Newcastle United made an offer for him. However, Barcelona rejected the approach as Ousmane Dembele had just departed for PSG.
Raphinha sustained an injury in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals against Osasuna and has been sidelined for over a month. He is expected to return against Granada and has a little over three months to showcase his value to Barcelona.
Barcelona is already progressing with the signing of Estevao, who is keen on joining the Catalan club. As another right-winger, he will compete with Yamal for a starting position, with funds potentially coming from Raphinha’s transfer.
Despite this, the 27-year-old Raphinha is reportedly unwilling to leave the club in the summer and could enlist the help of Deco, his former agent and current Barcelona sporting director, to advocate on his behalf.