Raphinha’s Leeds United future will remain on the agenda and at the centre of the rumour mill’s churn until he signs a new contract, the Whites reach the Champions League or he does, in fact, leave. You would argue a new contract probably does not stop the rumours either, such is the pathetic security they offer clubs in the modern game.
When a club teetering on the brink of relegation has a Brazil regular, a Brazil match-winner, on their books there is always going to be that speculation. It is a very easy rumour to hype up and a very easy target for recruitment departments to zero in on.
Jesse Marsch and the Elland Road board were not born yesterday. They are well aware of how this industry works and how players of Raphinha’s quality are always going to be coveted from afar.
