Raphinha Committed to Barcelona Future Amid Contract Talks

Barcelona star Raphinha says extending his contract is his top priority. He remains committed to the Catalan giants amid ongoing negotiations.

WHAT HAPPENED?

There was speculation about Raphinha’s future, but the 28-year-old winger put those rumours to bed by saying that his contract renewal is his next step. When asked about his future, he told Movistar: “What’s next? My renewal!” Raphinha added: “Thinking about reaching the top of football without Barcelona is impossible. Honestly, I’m enjoying it all a lot right now.” The Brazilian has confirmed that he wants to sign a new contract with the club despite his current deal not expiring until 2027. The new agreement could be for another two years, meaning he will commit to the Catalan giants until 2029. His desire to remain at Camp Nou is evident as he has been impressed with life at the club this season and has contributed 32 goals or assists in 52 games so far.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Raphinha’s confirmation, talks over a new contract have not been plain sailing as Barcelona and the player have two fundamental disagreements. Firstly, Barcelona want to extend his contract for a further two years with a “1+1” deal, meaning the first year would be guaranteed, while the second would be optional. The Brazil international wants to sign a two-year contract extension that would be valid until the summer of 2029. Secondly, according to SPORT, Raphinha is not happy with the salary table proposed by the club as part of the new renewal, meaning both parties need to negotiate further to reach an agreement. Both Saudi Arabia and American Major League Soccer clubs have been monitoring Raphinha’s situation and would be ready to make a move if he became available on the market. Lastly, his release clause could be set at €80 million (£70m/$85m) as Barcelona look to give him more control over his market value, as well as ensuring they receive a substantial fee for his services even when he approaches the final years of his career. However, Raphinha has shown no willingness to leave Europe at this stage of his career.

WHAT NEXT FOR RAPHINHA?

Barcelona’s main priority is to complete a series of contract renewals as soon as possible, with the club preparing to finalise deals for five players, including Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, Eric García and Andreas Christensen. Raphinha has been one of the standout performers for his team, so his contract situation will eventually become a key focus before the end of the year.