Diego Llorente has told Sport that Raphinha has the qualities to play for Barcelona amid speculation that the winger may leave Leeds United this summer.
Raphinha continues to be linked with a move to the Nou Camp. Had we been relegated this past season, you would imagine that the Brazilian would have probably already sealed a move away.
Relegation would have activated a release clause worth just £21 million.
However, Jesse Marsch leading his team to survival has thrown a spanner in the works where Barca are concerned. Bizarrely, reports claimed that the Catalan giants thought that they would still not need to pay much more than £21 million to sign Raphinha.
The good news is that Leeds seem to be ready to dig their heels in. More recently, Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona now know that the Whites want at least £47 million.
For some, that should still be nowhere near enough for Raphinha. But it remains to be seen if Barca do prove just how much they want the 25-year-old by meeting our asking price.
While away on international duty, Llorente was asked about whether Raphinha is able to make the step up to Barcelona.
“Of course, he has skills for it, then all parties must be understood to all benefit. But I see qualities for a top club,” he told Sport, when asked if he has the ability to make the leap to Barcelona.
Llorente says Raphinha has the quality to play for Barcelona
Of course, Llorente will hope Raphinha goes nowhere this summer. Perhaps it would have been nicer from our perspective if he gave a mischievous answer and insisted that he was already at a top club.
But the situation is going to come to a head at some point. Barcelona are either going to put a fee on the table Leeds are happy with, or they will not.
Raphinha’s reaction to Leeds saving themselves shows how professional he is. You would hope that he would understand Leeds’ stance when they hopefully refuse to let him go on the cheap.
Llorente thinks Raphinha is good enough for Barcelona. The onus is on Barca to finally put their money where their mouth is.
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