Tottenham Hotspur, the renowned English football club, is reportedly preparing for the arrival of a high-profile FC Barcelona winger. The player in question is none other than the exciting Brazilian winger, Raphinha. This move comes as Tottenham continues to impress under their current manager Ange Postecoglou with a free-flowing and consistent attacking model.
Postecoglou's style of play has been well-received by fans at White Hart Lane and could be seen as reminiscent of Barcelona’s own approach in their prime. However, this season has seen Barcelona struggle to replicate such fluidity under coach Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi, who was once a legendary midfielder for the Catalan club himself, has already effectively tendered his resignation due to these struggles. His departure in the summer could potentially trigger an exodus of players from Camp Nou.
Barcelona move hasn't turned out well for Raphinha
One such player who might follow Xavi out of Barcelona is Raphinha. The Brazilian winger hasn't quite lived up to expectations at his current club despite being rated at €70m. He hasn't justified this significant spend and it seems that he may not have fully adapted to life at one of Europe’s top clubs.
Raphinha’s performance has been inconsistent compared to when he was playing for Leeds United where he regularly terrorised opposition defences with his skill and pace on the wing.
Sources indicate that representatives from Tottenham have already initiated transfer discussions with Raphinha's entourage. Given that FC Barcelona is still grappling with financial issues, they might find a deal involving their highly-rated winger appealing.
Spurs have space to fill on wings in the squad
Talks with Spurs are still in early stages and any potential deal may not be close to completion until after FC Barcelona appoints its new coach following Xavi’s departure.
Despite the uncertainty, Tottenham's early interest in Raphinha could potentially work in their favour when official negotiations commence. By expressing their interest early on, they have positioned themselves as serious contenders for securing the Brazilian winger's signature.
While there are still many variables at play, it seems that Spurs are taking proactive steps to bolster its squad with high-quality players like Raphinha. This move could prove beneficial not only for the club but also for Raphinha who might find a more suitable environment to thrive under Postecoglou's management style.
