Leeds winger Raphinha is on the verge of joining Barcelona and not many know that the Brazil international could have played for Italy and even held talks with the FIGC.
The 25-year-old has already landed in Spain and is ready to finalise a €67m move to the Nou Camp. According to Fabrizio Romano, he will sign a contract until June 2027 with the La Liga giants.
Barcelona have confirmed an agreement with Leeds and will finalise his signature once the 25-year-old completes his medical.
Raphinha made his senior Brazil debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in October 2021 but also had a chance to play for Italy.
“He had an opportunity with the Italian national team last year, there was a serious attempt from the federation, and I gave him my advice. He knows what I think, I think that decisions must be wise,” said Deco, a former Chelsea and Barcelona star who is now the player’s representative.
UOL Esporte in Brazil even reported that Raphinha discussed the possibility of playing for the Azzurri with Jorginho, who was born in Brazil but has picked the Azzurri, becoming European champion a year ago.
Another Brazil-born star, Torino defender Gleison Bremer, could get an Italian passport and play for the Azzurri in the future, provided he doesn’t receive a call-up from his country.
Raphinha now has three goals in nine senior appearances with the Seleçao.
Never mind City and PSG, how are Barcelona keep buying players for ****loads of money?!
How big of a joke is this financial FairPlay thing really? Milan the one and only victim of that joke. Bunch of clowns running football in Europe.
Do we even have Italians playing soccer anymore in Serie A. Wtf is going on?? We’re only interested in convincing Brazilians to play for us. This is humiliating. Stop this s*** now and start investing in real Azzurri players!
Ask fifa
Mancini in the favelas like wow my look at my players
Wow. So right. We need to beg foreign players to play national. What a disgrace Italy has become