Leeds United hero Raphinha is a Barcelona player, but there have been contrasting reports on the financial situation of that deal.
Raphinha was a hero at Elland Road and he lit things up for Leeds United in his two seasons with the club. In fact, it’s been just over five years since Leeds’ Raphinha and fish and chips ordeal when signing.
However, reports say that Leeds are owed more if Raphinha wins the Champions League. The details surrounding what is and isn’t owed has been debated.
Recent reports yesterday announced that Leeds are owed more Barcelona money for Raphinha, with the La Liga giants having until June to resolve the issue. However, the truth of that has been made clearer.
Raphinha playing for Leeds United.
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Graham Smyth reveals how much Barcelona owe Leeds for Raphinha
The 28-year-old is an absolute superstar, with Raphinha a serious contender to win the 2024/25 Ballon d’Or. He’s been that impressive that Barcelona and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry believed Raphinha would win the prize.
Leeds fans were fuming with Raphinha’s final placing but perhaps nowhere near as much as Neymar and his anger at the Raphinha decision.
Raphinha ended up in fifth for the Ballon d’Or voting, but it was not a total waste for him to travel to the ceremony, with Raphinha meeting Ronaldinho at the Ballon d’Or. He is one of the players Raphinha considers a hero.
Amid all of this happening were the continued talks that Barcelona still owed Leeds the money. Fans online asked for clarity on the situation from The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth.
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Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), Smyth responded to a post replying to him. It read: “What an absolutely s— deal by Leeds ! Lose your best player to a club that is skint and paying us on the never, never !”
Smyth said: “Leeds got paid Gary. We reported this a year ago. Leeds got their money. Barca owe a creditor now, not Leeds.”
It was a deal worth around £58 million, with an up-front fee of £50 million and around £8 million in add-ons. Leeds have been paid that in full, it seems.
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Stuart Dallas hopes Raphinha returns to Leeds one day
Stuart Dallas has urged Raphinha to return to Leeds. He said: ““I wish he had been in the Champions League final with a chance of winning it.
“I really think he could’ve been up there to win the Ballon d’Or because his numbers are incredible. We always knew that he was special. He used to do things in training and on the pitch where you’d think wow.
“But the one thing about Raphi is he worked hard. He was top of the running stats all the time. People used to look at me and say, ‘he runs loads’.
“But Rapha’s running stats were through the roof. His high intensity, his accels, deccels, sprints, everything. That, to me, is — well, I’m watching him in the Inter Milan game the other day and he’s still getting back there sprinting.
“It’s mad how he does it but that’s testament to him and his mentality, and his work rate, and everything. I think he’s only going to get better as well.
“He’s only going to get better. It’s great to see him doing so well but come back to Leeds if you want!”