It may only have been tentative interest but Newcastle United can forget about signing Raphinha from Barcelona this summer.
According to a report from Sport, Raphinha has no intention of leaving Barcelona this summer despite interest from the Premier League.
Newcastle and Manchester City were both keeping tabs on the former Leeds United forward who moved to Barcelona last summer for £55million.
Raphinha has already shown he has what it takes to be a PL success
Raphinha was a superstar for Leeds with ‘unbelievable‘ performances in a relegation-threatened side. Given that Leeds were relegated in the season following his departure speaks volumes of how integral he was to that side.
It took the Brazilian a while to get his feet under the table at Barca and as a result there were rumours last year that the 26-year-old was unsettled, however his fortunes changed in the second half of the season. Moussa Dembele, who had been keeping Raphinha out of the side, picked up a knock which thrust Raphinha into the first-team for a while where he did exceptionally well.
He finished the season with 10 goals and 12 assists which dramatically changed fans’ views on his transfer from failure to success.
Newcastle aren’t likely to pursue Raphinha this summer
With Newcastle’s interest dating back several months and now Manchester City keen on him as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez, there are options available for Raphinha to return to the Premier League.
However, now that Paris Saint-Germain are close to taking Moussa Dembele away from Barcelona, Raphinha has the chance to make that right-wing place his own.
It’s therefore extremely unlikely that any move from a Premier League side would tempt him away from Barcelona now, and in all honesty, I’m not sure Newcastle’s interest was that serious to begin with.
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