Rafinha Alcantara

[BBZ8800]

Imo, his future is linked with Rakitic.

If Rakitic leaves and Rafinha leaves, we would lose 5 Cms in one season who knew our system to some extent:
Iniesta, Paulinho, Gomes, Rakitic, Rafinha

We would have:
Coutinho, not a true Cm
Vidal, a new player
Arthur, a new player
Alena, a rookie
Samper, a rookie
Denis, not a Cm

Basically, zero proven Cms.

 

[PhilS]

Well, if Barca got rid of both Rakitic and Rafinha, they would have Vidal, Arthur and Sergi Roberto. Vidal is new to this team, but to call him unproven is a bit much given his resume. Arthur and Sergi Roberto clearly can play.

Rakitic is more likely to eventually retire wearing blaugrana than leave this month. The team has more of a "problem" with too much talent at this position than not enough.

 

[raki]

Imo, his future is linked with Rakitic.

If Rakitic leaves and Rafinha leaves, we would lose 5 Cms in one season who knew our system to some extent:
Iniesta, Paulinho, Gomes, Rakitic, Rafinha

We would have:
Coutinho, not a true Cm
Vidal, a new player
Arthur, a new player
Alena, a rookie
Samper, a rookie
Denis, not a Cm

Basically, zero proven Cms.

Rakitic and Rafinha will stay

 

[soul24rage]

I think it's more likely that Rafinha will leave than Rakitic. I'm hoping that neither goes.

 

[BBZ8800]

Well, if Barca got rid of both Rakitic and Rafinha, they would have Vidal, Arthur and Sergi Roberto. Vidal is new to this team, but to call him unproven is a bit much given his resume. Arthur and Sergi Roberto clearly can play.

Vidal is not unproven, but a new player.
He is a world class player but still remains to be seen whether he will learn our system, fit well, and how much time it will take to fit.

Semedo still hasn't clicked after one year.
Some will say that Dembele clicked, others that he still hasn't.
Rakitic needed a few Months to click.
Arda never clicked.
Ibra never clicked.
Fabregas was always a strange fit.
Alexis never clicked.

So, Vidal is a good player.
But whether he will fit into our system is another story.
The same with Arthur and all new players.

This is why I have said that EV already lost 2 starters in Iniesta and Paulinho.
In that sense, coaches don't want too many new players, if you need to chase titles and wins from the day 1, because majority of new players will need a few months to learn Barca's way.
And some will never learn it and click.
And they need to create new chemistry with teammates.

This is why we probably won't lose BOTH Rakitic and Rafinha now.

 

[clemente]

Not in the squad... wtf... Loan to Atalanta with an option to buy inc.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Rakitic provides way more defensively than Rafinha, even though the latter provides some fancy dribbles and agility & quickness during buildup.

Rakitic is better overall, proven, and more consistent.

 

[BarçaBarça]

AS reporting that we demands 25M from Betis or Benfica. A bit infuriating to watch him go relatively cheap, while he would be more useful than Denis, etc.
But overall fine if we get some money at least, although it would be yet another example of how bad we are at selling.. I don't rate him particularly highly compared to other players out there, but this market is insane and 25M for him would be quite reasonable. That means we don't utilize our assets well enough.

 

[Raketa10]

25 mil for him would be OK since we have to many midfielders and next year we won't get anything as he will enter in the last year of his contract. I also don't want him to block Alena or Puig minutes. If he doesn't leave we should loan out Alena since he won't play at all.

Denis is totally different story. I don't rate him at all, he is together with Munir our least valuable player. I honestly don't see any use of those two except for some Copa games.

 

[El Flaco]

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Says Barça will open the door to the transfer (loan) of Rafinha to Real Betis. it would be a paid loan offer with a high mandatory purchase option.

 

[Joan]

Selling Rafinha only to keep Denis makes me cry.

 

[God Serena]

You guys complaining about Denis are missing the point. Rafinha would eat up minutes that could go to Arthur, Alena, Malcom, etc, while Denis will almost never play, anyways. He's in a weird spot where he's way too good to leave on the bench, but not reliable enough to keep around.

He's essentially as good as Lucho thought Andre Gomes was.

 

[gregorrin10]

Seems that Benfica has now come in with a higher offer and they're actually willing to buy him outright right away.

 

[Aryagorn]

40m or bust

 

[raki]

Seems that Benfica has now come in with a higher offer and they're actually willing to buy him outright right away.

The Benfica rumour is completely false. Benfica just bought 2 midfieelders (Ramires and a guy from leganés) and has to sell.