Barcelona's Brazilian winger Raphinha has made it clear he's ready to commit his long-term future to the Catalan giants, telling reporters he's open to contract talks whenever the club is ready.
"I see myself here for many years. I have a contract until 2028, and if the club wants to talk to me, I'm open," Raphinha told Movistar in an exclusive interview ahead of this weekend's blockbuster El Clásico showdown.
The statement comes after the 27-year-old recently hit back at speculation suggesting Barcelona might sell him this summer to free up funds for squad reinforcements. With his current deal running until 2028, Raphinha appears to be putting those rumors to rest once and for all.
All eyes now turn to Sunday's massive La Liga clash, where Barcelona can all but seal the title with a win over their archrivals Real Madrid. Raphinha knows exactly what's at stake.
"We expect it to be a pretty complicated game. They still have a mathematical chance of winning the league, so they're not going to give us anything. If we win, let's celebrate the League," he said.
With young superstar Lamine Yamal ruled out through injury, all eyes will be on Raphinha to step up. But the Brazilian was quick to manage expectations about playing on the right wing.
"If I play on the right wing, don't expect anything special because I'm not Lamine. Lamine is a star, and the things he does..." Raphinha said, acknowledging the teenager's unique talent.
The hope is that Raphinha could make an impact off the bench in the second half, potentially playing a decisive role in what promises to be a tense, high-stakes encounter at the Camp Nou.
