Barcelona captain has a verbal pact with Deco over potential future move to Saudi Arabia | Barca Universal

"FC Barcelona have looked like a different team since the return of Raphinha after more than two months out injured. The Brazilian international, one of the club captains, offers so much beyond his attacking contributions, with his energy, intensity, pressing from the front, and leadership. As such, it is only natural that Hansi Flick and Barça value him very highly and tied him down to a new contract with the club until 2028 earlier this year."

"Now, according to Xavi Campos on Catalunya Radio (h/t SPORT), Raphinha has a pact with Deco, Barcelona's sporting director, on verbal conditions that would make a future departure easier if he decides to accept an offer from Saudi Arabia after the 2026 World Cup with Brazil. Despite renewing until 2028, the 28-year-old winger agreed certain conditions with the Catalans' director which would allow him to leave in the future if he decides to pursue a new challenge in the Middle East."

"It is a situation that somewhat resembles that of Inigo Martinez, whose intention was to stay at Barça this season but who accepted an irresistible offer from Al Nassr in the summer. The journalist went on to state that Raphinha already had proposals from Saudi Arabia when he signed his renewal and that not one, but several clubs from the Middle Eastern nation are still pushing to sign him, with dizzying offers on the table."

Raphinha returned from more than two months out injured and has revitalized FC Barcelona with energy, intensity, pressing and leadership. Barcelona tied him to a contract until 2028 while agreeing a verbal pact with sporting director Deco that would ease a possible departure to Saudi Arabia after the 2026 World Cup. Multiple Saudi clubs presented proposals before and after the renewal and continue to offer lucrative contracts. Despite the offers and parallels with Inigo Martinez's move to Al Nassr, Raphinha remains committed to Barcelona, does not use an agent, and has told agencies he does not want anyone negotiating an exit.

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