NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Barcelona winger Raphinha has opened up about his departure from Leeds United in 2022, revealing he turned down lucrative offers from London’s top clubs – commonly understood to be Chelsea and Arsenal – to secure a move to 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 ultimately opting to join the Catalan giants.
“I had offers from a blue team and also a red team from London, but the best decision in my career was to sign for Barcelona,” Raphinha revealed, likely referring to interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
Decision paid
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 17: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 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 lures of the Premier League elite were considerable, Raphinha’s heart was set on following in the footsteps of legendary Brazilians such as Ronaldinho and Neymar at Barça.
Since the switch, the winger has justified his decision by becoming a central figure in the squad, contributing to a period of sustained domestic success.
The forward has navigated various challenges at Catalunya, including fierce competition for places and constant transfer rumours. However, he remains fully committed to the club.
To admire a modern genius
As well as his past transfer dealings, the Barcelona star was asked to name the one modern player he most desires to share a pitch with, naming 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 very great players. He is close to genius, but geniuses are very rare at that level.”
Busy summer ahead for Barça
Raphinha may well welcome a number of new faces to Camp Nou this summer.
Barcelona have been linked with several strikers in what sporting director Deco has described as an “almost impossible task” to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is set to leave the Catalan club at the end of his contract.
Chelsea forward João Pedro and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez are said to be leading the shortlist to succeed the Polish striker at Camp Nou.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over 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 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
