Al-Ittihad ready to make Barcelona star Raphinha highest-paid player at club

Saudi club Al-Ittihad is contemplating exceeding their financial constraints to acquire Barcelona star Raphinha, aiming to position him as the highest-paid player at the club. The Brazilian is presently experiencing exceptional performance under the guidance of manager Hansi Flick.

He has been given the captain's armband and has been consistently scoring goals for the Catalan club. Barca may face a significant setback as the Saudi club Al-Ittihad is arranging a substantial offer to attract the player to the Middle East.

Al-Ittihad have already signed top European players such as Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante. The team is now optimistic about acquiring Raphinha, which would further strengthen their squad as they currently lead the Saudi Pro League standings with 33 points.

The ex-Leeds United player has recorded 16 goals and eight assists in 21 matches and shows no signs of deceleration under the German manager, as he leads the club's offensive efforts in conjunction with Robert Lewandowski.

Raphinha's performance has been consistent, and the Spanish club is now committed to retaining the player, having previously considered selling him during the recent summer transfer window.

“I remember on vacation, resting, they announced that they were going to sell me and you feel like a commodity. They do what they want with us,” Raphinha had said in October with reference to his circumstances following the end of last season.

However, Raphinha is currently focused on leading Barcelona towards winning trophies this season and is expected to disregard any proposals from Al-Ittihad, as he has numerous objectives to accomplish during this term.

Barcelona, who suffered a slump in their form after failing to win their last three matches, secured a big victory recently and remain four points clear of Real Madrid at the top.

However, the Los Blancos possess a game in hand, which presents an opportunity to narrow the deficit to a single point. This development would increase the pressure on the Catalan club, intensifying the competition for the LaLiga title as the season advances.

Cover Credits - Goal.com