The 3 Most Expendable Players for FC Barcelona during the Summer Transfer Window
- F.C Barcelona continue their pursuit of Spanish stars Williams and Dani Olmo.
- Ensuring their signings may require some important sacrifices for the club to consider.
By Rohan Borges
2. Raphinha: The Impact of Potential New Signings
Raphinha’s situation at Barcelona is directly influenced by the club’s pursuit of Nico Williams, whether the club would like to admit it or not. Lamine Yamal’s emergence last year saw Raphinha’s role on the right wing take a sizeable hit, and by the end of the year, his inclusion in the starting eleven was almost surprising.
The addition of the dynamic Williams on the left wing alongside the promising Yamal on the right would immediately form one of the scariest wing tandems in Europe. Concurrently, the Brazilian’s role would be significantly diminished.
Raphinha has shown flashes of brilliance both in a national and club setting, and he’s been a critical asset on the wings. However, his consistency has been a point of contention, and the competition for a starting position amidst Barcelona’s forward line is fierce.
The expectation amid Raphinha’s signing from Leeds United was that he’d be able to fill the role of a traditional Brazilian winger; charging at fullbacks and utilizing a series of skills and feints to create the separation for a curious shot on target, or a delightful service into the box. Through two seasons in Camp Nou he hasn’t quite lived up to those aspirations.
A sale of Raphinha would likely command around €60-€70M, positioning the club to chase after further reinforcements in addition to one of their primary targets. Several Premier League clubs including Tottenham and Liverpool have shown interest in the Brazilian winger. While Barcelona would undoubtedly prefer to retain depth and versatility in their attacking positions, financial realities may force their hand. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers, as the timeless adage goes.