How Deco intervened to save the signing of Barça target Raphinha

Deco, Barça idol and agent of Raphinha, has played a significant role in the arrival of the Leeds United star at FC Barcelona, which will materialize imminently. As SPORT has been able to confirm, the Brazilian winger's representative saved the operation when, in the middle of last week, he warned Barcelona that they would lose his ward if they did not rush their final offensive.

Leeds United told Deco that they were not at all satisfied with the value offered by Barcelona, which at the time was around 40 million euros, and with them needing to delay the operation until they had financial muscle with the activation of all the 'levers'. Moreover, the management of the Peacocks urged the agent to close the personal terms with Chelsea, as they wanted to finsih the agreement with their fellow English club, who had made their offer at 70 million euros. Deco had to roll up his sleeves to stop the initiative. He put his foot down, reinforcing that Raphinha would only leave the club to become a Barça player and called for further negotiations with the Spanish club. As a result, the agent had to then calm and restrain the suits at Chelsea (where he played two seasons when he left Barça in 2008) and explain to the new management of the Blues, that Raphainha was only thinking of leaving for Barcelona and that he had no intentions of making the move to Stamford Bridge. And so, the fire had been put out.

Raphinha, who had just landed in Leeds to start the pre-season, went into action then for the first time. And as SPORT has already explained, he met with his coach, Jesse Marsch, and told him that he was not in favor of staying at the club and that he wanted to be sold to Barcelona as soon as possible. The player's stance was the key to his being called off the pre-season tour of Australia. Deco told Barcelona that it was untenable to postpone the signing, as the pressure he was under was suffocating. He claimed it would be impossible to maintain this situation for two more weeks.

The sports management then decided to take matters into their own hands and the timetable was changed. A new offer of 55 million euros was presented, plus bonuses for objectives achieved by the Brazilian while playing for Barcelona. The transfer was then redirected and the final push was made. It resulted in negotiations with Leeds United overlapping with those of Ousmane Dembélé, who was offered, and later accepted, a lower offer for his contracts' renewal. By this point, the club, with the approval of Xavi Hernandez, had already decided that Raphinha's arrival would take place regardless of whether the French winger would continue or not.

Presently, Barça have reached an understanding with Leeds, and only a few details are left to finalize in the agreement. In fact, Raphinha already sees himself at Barça and his entourage is euphoric. Deco, who has been a retaining wall for months, has been able to do his job perfectly to save the signing in July, when everything seemed to be going down the cliff.