‘They can’t afford my fee’: Raphinha has already told Arteta and Arsenal exactly what they need to hear to complete huge signing next season

 

Barcelona star Raphinha is being linked with a move to Arsenal this summer – and he has already told manager Mikel Arteta what he needs to hear.

Spanish outlet SPORT claim that Gunners sporting director Edu has been making ‘constant calls’ to the player’s agent, former Barca, Porto and Chelsea midfielder Deco.

It is reported that a fee of between €70-80 million could be enough to seal a deal, but the Gunners are said to face competition from both Chelsea and Newcastle

Arsenal launched a bid to sign Raphinha from Leeds last summer for £40 million, but The Athletic claimed this was considerably below the selling club’s valuation.

This time around, it appears that Arsenal want to test Barca’s resolve – and the 26-year-old has already proven to Arteta why he would be the perfect signing.

Arteta will love Raphinha comments

Speaking in January about players Arsenal would like to bring in, Arteta explained (quotes via The Independent): “We don’t need a body, we need players that make the team better.

“I think personalities that have the mentality that want to win and we have to focus on that. We have to be very strict with what we have done and the policy we have had to make the team successful.”

Whilst at Barcelona, Raphinha has won his third trophy in club football, with the previous two trophies won at previous club Sporting Lisbon

The Brazilian’s side lifted the Supercopa de Espana in January, with this season’s La Liga title also impending. Barca are 13 points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid with five games remaining, and can secure the title next Sunday.

But it is Raphinha’s comments after lifting the Supercopa that will no doubt impress Arteta, Edu and the rest of Arsenal’s hierarchy.

He said: “This is my first trophy with this giant club, this enormous shirt of FC Barcelona – it’s incredible.

“And so now we go for more trophies.”