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Barcelona’s winger Raphinha has spoken candidly about his 2022 exit from Leeds United, revealing that he turned down lucrative proposals from two of London’s top clubs – widely believed to be Chelsea and Arsenal – before sealing a transfer to Camp Nou. The Brazilian international described the move as the best professional decision of his career.

Turning away from London’s giants

Raphinha confirmed that his journey to the Spotify Camp Nou was far from straightforward, explaining that several Premier League clubs from London were keen to keep him in England’s top flight. During the 2022 summer transfer window, the former Leeds United star was at the heart of a major transfer battle involving some of the most powerful sides in English football.

In an interview with TNT Sports Brasil, the 27-year-old reflected on the intense speculation surrounding his future before committing to Barcelona. “I had offers from a Blue team and also a Red team from London, but the best decision of my career was signing for Barcelona,” Raphinha said, hinting at interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.

Decision proved worthwhile

Despite the substantial financial incentives offered by the Premier League’s elite, Raphinha’s ambition was to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian legends such as Ronaldinho and Neymar at Barcelona. Since his arrival, he has validated that choice by becoming an integral part of the squad and contributing to the club’s continued success in domestic competitions.

The forward has faced his share of challenges in Catalunya, including fierce competition for starting spots and ongoing transfer rumours. Nevertheless, Raphinha remains deeply committed to the Blaugrana cause.

Praising a modern-day great

When asked which current player he would most like to share the field with, Raphinha named Bayern Munich’s star striker Harry Kane. Expressing admiration for the England captain, he said: “Yes, he has an excellent sense of positioning; he plays well and scores goals. I put him in the category of very great players. He’s close to genius, but geniuses are very rare at that level.”

Busy transfer window expected for Barcelona

This summer could bring several new additions to Camp Nou. Barcelona have been linked with multiple attacking options, as sporting director Deco described the search to replace Robert Lewandowski – whose contract with the Catalan club is nearing its end – as an “almost impossible task.” Reportedly, Chelsea’s João Pedro and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez are among the leading candidates to succeed the Polish striker.