The Raphinha transfer saga is shaping up to be one of the craziest in history.
According to the strongest sources out there, he has agreed terms to join Barcelona back in January, Arsenal have agreed a fee to sign him weeks ago, and Chelsea have now agreed a fee to sign him two days ago and sent an offer of personal terms along as well.
The terms are great, and some say Raphinha has ‘broadly’ accepted them. However, reports this morning say that Chelsea have had no official response from his agent Deco, who has spent the last two days in the offices of Barcelona seemingly trying to get them to make an offer, because this is Raphinha’s first choice. He wants Barca, in fact, he is desperate for Barca. This doesn’t sit well with me at all.
Chelsea have had no official response from Deco/Raphinha. This is because Deco has met Barcelona who have had an agreement on Raphinha’s personal terms since March. Chelsea will have contact with Deco today to try to understand the situation.
– @FabrizioRomano via @caughtoffside
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) June 30, 2022
We’re hanging around with our terms ready to be accepted, and his camp are using every minute to try and get Barcelona to make an offer as well. We’re a clear second best and it’s not even close. For me, that would be enough to walk away.
I realise not every player is going to have Chelsea as their first choice or favourite club in the world when they join us. But the fact that he is SO desperate and still pushing for a mover to Barcelona even at these final hours, is what makes this situation different to any other for me.
If I was Chelsea, I’d be walking away now. They’ve had plenty of time to respond to the terms, I’d be withdrawing them altogether now as well as the offer to Leeds.
