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

The Saudi club are preparing a lucrative deal for the Brazilian.

Saudi club Al-Ittihad are seriously considering going beyond their financial limit to sign Barcelona star Raphinha and make him the highest-paid player at the club. The Brazilian is currently enjoying blistering form under manager Hansi Flick.

He has been handed the captain armband and has been scoring goals left and right for the Catalan club. Barca could be hit with a massive blow as Saudi side Al-Ittihad are preparing a lucrative deal to entice the player to the Middle East.

Al-Ittihad have already signed top European players such as Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante. They now will hope to bring Raphinha who will further reinforce their squad as they sit top of the Saudi Pro League standings with 33 points.

The former Leeds United player has 16 goals and eight assists in 21 games and seems not slowing down anytime soon under the German manager as he spearheads the club’s attacking line alongside Robert Lewandowski.

Raphinha’s form has not been surprising and now the Spanish club will do everything in their power to keep the player after they were open to selling him during the recent summer 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, Raphina is currently focused on taking Barcelona to silverware this season and will hopefully not entertain any offers from Al-Ittihad as he still has many things to prove 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 have a game in hand and could reduce the gap to one point which will put more pressure on the Catalan club as the race for the LaLiga title will intensify as the season progresses.

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