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Barcelona winger Raphinha has spoken about his departure from Leeds United in 2022, revealing that he turned down lucrative offers from top London clubs, widely understood to be Chelsea and Arsenal, to secure a move to the Camp Nou.
In a new interview, the Brazilian international described his choice as the biggest decision of his professional career.
Snubbing London’s heavyweights
Raphinha has confirmed that his path to the Spotify Camp Nou was not without obstacles, revealing that several London-based clubs were desperate to keep him in the Premier League.
During the summer of 2022, the former Leeds talisman was at the center of a high-profile transfer tug-of-war involving some of the biggest names in English football.
Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil, the 27-year-old reflected on the intense speculation surrounding his future before he finally decided to join the Catalan giants.
“I had offers from a blue team and also from a red team in London, but the best decision of my career was to sign for Barcelona,” Raphinha revealed, probably alluding to the interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
The decision paid off
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 17: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the EA Sports LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Spotify Camp Nou on May 17, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
While the financial attractions of the Premier League elite were important, Raphinha’s heart was set on following in the footsteps of legendary Brazilians like Ronaldinho and Neymar at Barça.
Since making the move, the winger has justified his decision by becoming a central figure in the team, contributing to a period of sustained national success.
The striker has faced several challenges in Catalonia, including strong competition for places and constant transfer rumours. However, he remains fully committed to the club.
Admiring a modern genius
Looking beyond his past transfers, the Barcelona star was asked to name the modern player he most wants to share the pitch with, and he named Bayern Munich’s talismanic striker Harry Kane.
Raphinha did not hold back in his admiration for the England captain, saying: “Yes, he has an excellent sense of positioning, he plays well and scores goals. I put him in the category of great players. He is close to genius, but geniuses are very rare at that level.”
An intense summer for Barça
Raphinha is likely to welcome several new faces to the Camp Nou this summer.
Barcelona have been linked with numerous forwards in what sporting director Deco has described as an “almost impossible task” to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is leaving the Catalan club when his contract expires.
Chelsea striker João Pedro and Atlético Madrid player Julián Álvarez are reportedly at the top of the list of candidates to succeed the Polish striker at the Camp Nou.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be streamed live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
