Barcelona set to reach agreement with Real Betis over Rafinha loan

Rafinha is set to join Real Betis on a one-year loan

After having a highly successful pre-season, Rafinha will be leaving Barcelona on loan after failing to make himself a part of Ernesto Valverde’s plans for the season. This is last-gasp effort on Éric Abidal’s part, who has been unable to find a suitor for the Brazilian the entire transfer window.

But there is a little snag which needs to be worked out before the deal can be announced. The club are holding out for a clause in his loan contract that will obligate Real Betis to make the move permanent, without any contingencies.

But the Andalusians prefer to have the option of sending him back if he has a poor season. In case of an agreement not being reached, Betis have also prepared a bid for an alternative loan signing, Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Giovani Lo Celso.

And even if Rafinha doesn’t leave, it will not be as if he will spend months on the bench. The 25-year old Brazilian midfielder may be below the likes of Arturo Vidal and Arthur in the pecking order at the Camp Nou, but he would still get opportunities in the Copa del Rey and lesser league games.

But even so, Éric Abidal should try to get this deal across the line, in order to streamline the squad and give less competition to Arthur, who will be trying to adapt to European football in his first season at the Camp Nou, and integrate into the first-team squad.