Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal have reportedly approached Barcelona star Raphinha again about a potential summer transfer to the Middle East.
Raphinha has already turned down lucrative offers to leave Barcelona but it seems Al-Hilal are refusing to take the hint.
A new update from GE Globo states that Al-Hilal have “renewed contact” with the Brazilian. The report adds that Raphinha responded quickly and “immediately indicated that he will not discuss his future before the end of the World Cup.”
Al-Hilal
are huge admirers of Raphinha and want to make a statement signing after missing out on the league title last season to Al-Nassr. Darwin Nunez is also expected to leave, meaning Raphinha has become a priority.
Transfer speculation around Raphinha is nothing new and is something the Brazilian has admitted he finds fairly annoying.
“Ever since I arrived at Barcelona, from day one there’s been speculation that I’m going to leave this club. I think people don’t really like seeing me here. Especially the press… there’s one guy who just tells lies,” Raphinha told ESPN last month.
”The (journalist) who wrote that article (about a possible departure) has also written other things about me that were lies, saying that I met with the club, that I spoke to people internally and said I was undecided, that I didn’t know if I would continue or not (at Barcelona).
“That guy only tells lies, every time he posts some news he has to leave out some irrelevant things that come out of his mouth.”
Raphinha’s wife also laughed off speculation at the end of the season after a report claimed the Brazilian was considering his future at the club in the wake of their Champions League exit.
