Ronaldinho has claimed that he would love to see Raphinha make the switch from Leeds United to his former side Barcelona. Rumours linking the Whites star with a move to Catalonia continue to intensify and the one-time Balon d’Or winner has provided his opinion.
Raphinha is a player Ronaldinho will have a particular interest in because of the Brazilian link between the pair and he is clearly hoping that his former side stump up the full asking price. Barcelona were reportedly initially hoping that £35m would tempt Leeds into selling one of their prized assets which, as they soon found out, certainly would not.
There has been plenty of contact between Raphinha’s agent Deco, who played for Barca with Ronaldinho, and those in charge at Camp Nou but, at present, no real contact between the two involved clubs. When asked about the prospect of the potential signing, Ronaldinho told Sport : “I would very much like him to come. He has a lot of quality, he would fit in very well with Spanish football due to his playing characteristics.”
Read more: Raphinha fulfilling Ronaldinho promise as Leeds United winger recalls childhood encounter
These comments, whilst flattering, are unlikely to be anything Raphinha hasn’t heard from Ronaldinho previously due to the pair’s relationship. The Leeds winger explained, in a piece with the Players’ Tribune back in August, that his family knew the Brazil icon due to them being from the same part of the country.
He recalled his first encounter with Ronaldinho. "This party was when he had just started playing for Barcelona, I think," said Raphinha. I remember turning up at this huge house and seeing him stand at the front door, welcoming everybody and giving out hugs. That smile , man. You know the smile.
"When he saw me, he took me in his arms and walked around with me. I froze. Didn’t know how to react. But his charm can melt even the coldest little kid, haha. He treats everybody so well, even the small ones."
Raphinha might well be keen to replicate the success his idol enjoyed at Barcelona but, first, he still has work to do in Leeds. His impact on the rest of the team at Elland Road has waned throughout the season after he seemed to be almost single-handedly keeping the Whites above the relegation zone in the first half of the campaign.
Jesse Marsch will be desperate to see the best version of Raphinha in the final seven games of the season as he’ll realise that, with him in his best form, he is more than capable of dragging Leeds away from the bottom three.
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