Raphinha to complete €71m Barca transfer

Barcelona have won the race to sign Raphinha after the Catalan club agreed to terms with Premier League side Leeds United.

Chelsea were also in hot pursuit of the winger but Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Leeds and the deal is set to be announced in the next few days.

Xavi Hernandez, manager of Barcelona, is planning an overhaul of the squad and signing Raphinha is a step in that direction.

Barcelona are expected to pay €71 million (£60m/$72m) to Leeds for the services of the winger.

Leeds have agreed for Barca to pay the final fee in instalments, with the Liga club’s current financial situation preventing them from coming up with the full amount upfront.

Negotiations between the two clubs have accelerated and they are now working to iron out the minor details of the deal.

Raphinha wanted to pursue his dream of playing at Camp Nou and hence preferred a move to Spain. He is being represented by Deco, the former Barcelona player, who chalked out a way to make the transfer possible.

After Barca matched the offer of Chelsea, Leeds had no qualms in allowing the winger to seal a move away from the Premier League.

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