Barcelona need a big sale this summer, especially if they are to orchestrate the arrival of Nico Williams from Athletic club. Of all the candidates, the most realistic sale from the club’s perspective is Raphinha – that’s despite his very strong performances for the Catalans during the 2023-24 season.
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Raphinha amassed 10 goals and 13 assists from only 1950 minutes across all competitions, and he was undoubtedly one of Barcelona’s most decisive players. However, the arrival of Williams would mean that he is not a starter next season, and with his value still high, now would be the time to cash in.
A move to Saudi Arabia is a no-go, as he has no intention of heading to the Middle East. Barcelona’s only realistic chance of a sale would be if Raphinha returned to the Premier League, and an opportunity could be about to open up.
According to Sport, Moussa Diaby’s impending sale to Al-Ittihad could be an opening for Barcelona in their efforts to sell Raphinha. Diaby is expected to leave Aston Villa for €65-70m, and Raphinha’s asking price would be in this region.
It’s worth noting that Raphinha wants to continue at Barcelona, and if he were to stay, he’d provide outstanding depth on either wing. It would be a big surprise to see Aston Villa spend anywhere close to €70m on the Brazilian, so the Catalans may need to drop their asking price for a sale to occur.
