Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has set the record straight on the details of Raphinha's contract after it was claimed the winger has a release clause in the case of the Whites remaining in the Premier League. Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on his Twitter account that the Brazil international has two release clauses in his contract, covering the possibility of both top flight survival and relegation to the Championship.
He claimed that €75m would be required to prise Raphinha away from West Yorkshire if Leeds stayed up but later provided clarification on the matter, insisting there is only a clause in place if Jesse Marsch's men are relegated and that the fee required would be €25m.
Orta has moved to erase any lingering doubts over Raphinha's contract by confirming there is no release clause in place if Leeds keep their heads above water.
Read more: Raphinha saga first test of Andrea Radrizzani's Leeds United vision
Speaking to Radio Marca, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he said: "Raphinha doesn’t have a clause if we stay in the Premier League. I say this because a transfer guru said the other day that he had a clause for an amount and he doesn’t. Sometimes the transfer guru is wrong.
"He doesn’t have a clause if we stay in the Premier League."
Orta's record when it comes to recruitment has been intensely scrutinised in recent years as he has overseen some underwhelming signings. However, the capture of Raphinha for a reported fee of £17m from Rennes certainly lands in the list of successful signings made since Orta arrived at Elland Road.
The Spaniard has revealed he told Raphinha early on in negotiations that the winger would be going to the 2022 World Cup, something that is now a possibility given he has broken into the Brazil squad. He said: "When the player knocked on the door of Leeds, the first thing I said to him was, ‘you’re going to invite me to the World Cup in Qatar’.
"And he looked stupid, he didn’t believe it. We’ve been meeting our goals and the player knows that Leeds and his coaching staff, who have collaborated a lot, and the club has helped his figure grow and has responded with great quality, being a differential player in the league.
"He has to continue doing the same and in summer, when the time comes, I’m sure there’s time for everything."
Raphinha has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona and fears held by some supporters over his future may have been fuelled by the fact his agent was once a mainstay of the midfield at Camp Nou. However, Orta has offered assurance that Deco has been in contact with him and been of assistance.
He said: "Fortunately, Raphinha’s career management is carried out by a top-level player who knows how to handle this, which is Deco. I have had several conversations with Deco. Deco helps me and I can’t say that everyone helps.
"In this case, Deco knows that the current objective of the team that bet on his footballer has only one name: save himself and stay in the Premier League. Everything that is of the future will come."
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