Raphinha has put Barcelona back into a familiar transfer conversation. He said the Saudi offer was “very tempting”, and reports say clubs are ready to put €80 million on the table while lifting his net salary from €12 million to €48 million a year. That is a serious number for a player who is still producing for Barcelona.

Why the Saudi move is back on the table

The winger did not pretend the interest was minor. “The offer we received from Saudi Arabia was very tempting,” Raphinha said, adding that it would have changed “not only my life, but also that of my parents, my son and many other people.” He also admitted, “Of course, we considered leaving Barcelona.”

That matters because this is not the first time he has been close to the door. Raphinha said he seriously considered leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2024 before Hansi Flick convinced him to stay. Barcelona also believe he would again turn down Saudi Arabia to chase another Champions League push with Hansi Flick.

Why Barcelona may still hesitate to sell

The money is obvious, but so is the football case for keeping him. Raphinha's 2025/26 season is listed at 21 goals and 7 assists in 33 matches, which is strong output even with injury concerns and far from the profile of a player drifting out of the picture. Barcelona may not love the idea of losing a forward who is still delivering in the final third.

Raphinha's own words point in both directions. “As long as my body holds up and allows me, I will keep giving everything and giving the best of myself at Barça,” he said. That does not sound like a player forcing an exit, even if the offer was clearly big enough to test him.

Barcelona will know the question is not whether Saudi clubs are serious. They clearly are. The real issue is whether a player with 21 goals, 7 assists and a contract that still has him committed to the club can be tempted twice in the same year. If the next bid lands, this becomes a much harder call for Barcelona.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →