Raphinha confirms London offers prior to Barcelona move, cites Kane as ideal partner

Barcelona forward Raphinha has disclosed that he received transfer offers from two London-based clubs, described as a 'blue team' and a 'red team', prior to his 2022 move from Leeds United. Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil, the Brazilian stated that signing for Barcelona was the best decision of his career, citing subsequent triumphs in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Raphinha joined the Catalan giants from Leeds United in 2022, a transfer that has since yielded significant silverware for the club. The forward’s comments regarding the specific nature of the London offers were made during a broader career retrospective, where he emphasised the strategic value of his choice to move to Spain over remaining in the English market.

When asked which player he would most like to have played alongside, Raphinha named Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. He praised Kane’s positioning and goal-scoring ability, placing the German-based striker in the category of 'very great players' and noting that he is 'close to genius', although he acknowledged that such talent is rare at the highest level.

The revelation comes amidst ongoing speculation linking the Barcelona forward with the Bayern Munich striker, although Kane is now expected to extend his contract at Bayern. Raphinha’s assessment of Kane’s technical attributes underscores the high regard in which he holds the striker’s professional capabilities.

The specific identities of the 'blue team' and 'red team' are not explicitly named in the source material, though they are widely understood to refer to Chelsea and Manchester United respectively. The timeline of when these offers were received relative to the finalisation of the Leeds-to-Barcelona move is not detailed beyond the pre-2022 period.