Brazilian midfielder Rafinha edges closer to Barcelona exit
Italian giants Inter Milan are all set to bring Barcelona youngster Rafinha in on loan and potentially sign him to a permanent deal.
Despite a bit of speculation, Rafinha is set to join Inter Milan on a loan deal with Inter having the option to buy Rafinha at the end of the season. According to heavy reports from Italian Media Rafinha has already undergone successful medical checkup for the San Siro side. He featured for the first time in nearly 10 months in Barca’s loss to Espanyol in Copa Del Rey action.
The Brazilian international joined Barcelona’s La Masia when he was just 13 years old. He was hailed as “Better of Alcantara brothers”. His break out season came under Luis Enrique after impressing on a loan to Celta de Vigo. However, his appearances for Catalan side remained inconsistent due to the injuries he suffered time and time again. These injuries are the only thing holding him back from getting significant playing time for the Blaugrana.
To make things worse under the New boss, Ernesto Valverde Rafinha has made just an appearance that too coming as a substitute in Copa Del Rey. This is the major factor in why the Brazilian sensation, who was once hailed as Andres Iniesta’s heir, wants to leave his boyhood club in order to get more playing time.
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On another hand, for Blaugrana, the deal is decent as Catalan giants are desperately looking to offload players after the signing of Philippe Coutinho and Osmane Dembele. They began by sending Arda Turan on a two and a half year loan back to his home country of Turkey. Although signing Coutinho and Dembele are good bits of business, Blaugrana have to recover fund and reduce the wage chart which is a massive headache for Barca’s Hierarchy.
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In the end, Rafinha is still young at 24 years of age, but with the new signings and his injury problems a loan move is imminent. Inter Milan would help the Brazilian return to good form and he’d get more playing time on a loan move at the moment. He still has the potential to be a really good player. Playing at Inter Milan could get him back on the right track. Hopefully, there will be more news on the Rafinha situation as it comes it.