FC Barcelona will push Raphinha out of the club if the right offer comes in for him according to ... [+]
A first team star refuses to leave FC Barcelona, who will "push him out" of the club if the right offer comes in according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Raphinha hit double figures in goals and assists during his maiden term, after joining in a deal worth more than $60 million from Leeds United two summers ago.
Despite suffering two setbacks through injury this season, he is still on nine assists and six goals; one of which proved to be the winner against Las Palmas in the Montjuic Stadium on Saturday.
Raphinha was meant to be the man on the right wing after positional rival Ousmane Dembele fled for Barca's upcoming Champions League quarterfinals foes Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
While sidelined, however, he was made to watch 16-year-old Lamine Yamal rise from a prospect to a regular fixture in Xavi Hernandez's first XI.
Asked about this competition for minutes following a win over Osasuna earlier this year, Raphinha welcomed it and tipped Lamine to become one of the best players in the world.
In a post-match interview this weekend, Xavi also played the matter down by saying: "I don't think talking about whether he is a starter or non-starter is important for us, he is a very important footballer for our team.
"He was outstanding in many matches throughout the season, and today was no different," the manager added.
Yet even after putting in a strong display which helped Barca move within five points of bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table, Raphinha gets no breathing space from the local media.
With the dust still yet to settle on Barca's latest win, SPORT reports that the player is essentially refusing to leave the club as he did last summer.
If the right offer comes in for him, however, the paper says that the Catalans "will push him out" while in need of making big sales to navigate Financial Fair Play limits.
Interest from Saudi Arabia and the Premier
