Money is not everything, even in the face of vertiginous sums. Raphinha, the Brazilian winger of FC Barcelona, recognized it bluntly this weekend: he could have left Catalonia last summer under the attraction of a colossal offer from Saudi Arabia. According to the daily SportAl Hilal was ready to invest nearly 400 million euros to attract him.
Transformed this season under the orders of the German Hansi Flick, Raphinha was able to regain his best level, to the point of becoming a serious candidate in the Ballon d'Or. And if today, the former Leeds player plans fully in the future of Barça, he admits that he might not have been the same a year ago.
“Yesterday, I was informed of the offer of Saudi Arabia and, honestly, I was very surprised by the figures,” said Raphinha to TNT SPORTS. “Honestly, if they made this offer to me last year, I think I would have left. At the time, I was a little collapsed, and this offer would have completely changed my life, as well as that of my wife and my family. It is a sum that could have changed our life at all. And whoever says that he would not go is a liar, because it is impossible to look at figures like these and not to think that it could change your life, that I could go there, “he added.
Raphinha, the Renaissance
Dazzling this season, Raphinha displays impressive statistics: 30 goals and 21 assists in all competitions. A real permanent danger in a sparkling offensive trio, he embodies the rebirth of an attractive barça, again turned towards the attack.
After having lived a hesitant beginnings under Xavi, the Brazilian started this season with a completely different spirit, as he confided in the fall. Relaunched by Flick's confidence, Raphinha is today a key element of a Barça which dreams of reconnecting with European glory, ten years after his last coronation in the Champions League.
