FC Barcelona is ready to offer a new number nine a contract, as indicated by Sporting Director Deco.
Visionhaus
FC Barcelona is ready to offer its new number nine a contract, as indicated by Sporting Director Deco while speaking on the RAC1 radio station.
The Catalans lost both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres this summer. While the Pole joined the Chicago Fire on a free transfer after his contract expired, the scorer of Spain’s winning goal in the World Cup final, Ferran, joined Paris Saint-Germain as part of a reported €50 million deal.
Barca tried and failed to bring in number one replacement choice Julian Alvarez, who in May reportedly agreed to join the Blaugrana.
As Atletico Madrid refused to negotiate the Argentine’s transfer with one of its main domestic rivals, however, a move never materialised for Julian, who has been ostracized by Rojiblancos fans whenever gracing the Metropolitano.
Instead then, Barca settled for Gabriel Jesus, who cost just €10 million on a two-year deal and has already scored in the Champions League.
With his injury history that has resulted in considerable periods of time away from the pitch, however, the former Palmeiras prodigy can’t be expected to lead the line in what could end up being a near-60 game season.
Alternatively, a converted winger in Raphinha has taken up those duties and done so in roaring fashion.
Leading the Pichichi rankings as La Liga’s top scorer with six goals in four outings, the Brazilian has also netted a brace in the Champions League this week as Hansi Flick’s men thrashed Feyenoord 5-1 at the Spotify Camp Nou.
With Raphinha still at the height of his powers aged 29, despite various hamstring niggles last term, Sporting Director Deco has indicated that the club wishes to renew a figure that is the main captain at the moment, and whose current terms expire on June 30, 2028.
“We’re always keeping a close eye on our players and managing contract matters so that renewals don’t catch us off guard. We try to ensure contract balance among the squad – making sure players of a similar caliber aren’t significantly out of sync with one another – because disparities can sometimes lead to issues. We want him to stay with us for many years,” Deco explained on RAC1.
Renewing Raphinha would be a wise step from FC Barcelona
With the number 11 set to turn 30 in December, renewing Raphinha until say June 30, 2030, when he’d be 33, would secure the forward for the rest of his peak.
That avoids any nasty surprises a year from now, where he could enter the last 12 months of his contract if not tied down further, and can stop him leaving for free any time soon.
It also keeps Saudi Arabia at bay to a certain extent, meaning if they show interest as has arisen the last couple of windows, the moneyed outifts of the Pro League would have to shell out a premium for a player once more being tipped for Ballon d’Or glory if he ends this season the way he’s started it at FC Barcelona.
Leave a comment