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Barcelona could tempt Liverpool into parting ways with star winger Luis Diaz (Image: GETTY)
Barcelona could tempt Liverpool into parting ways with star winger Luis Diaz by agreeing to send Raphinha in the opposite direction. The Catalan giants are prioritising a left winger this summer and have identified Diaz as their best option.
Barcelona endured an underwhelming season last time out as they failed to win any silverware.
The team finished second to Real Madrid in La Liga and were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain at the quarter-final stage.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona chief Deco believes Diaz possesses the personality, technical quality and power to wreak havoc on the left wing and is also a proponent of the Colombian’s work rate and willingness to track back.
Diaz is not entirely comfortable at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s departure weighing heavily on him, but still has three years remaining on his current deal.
And the only way Barca would be able to get their hands on the talented ace is by sacrificing Raphinha.
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Barcelona signed Raphinha from Leeds in the summer of 2022 (Image: GETTY)
Raphinha is highly valued by Deco after bagging 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances last season.
But he is naturally a right winger and has been forced to play on the opposite flank at times during his career in Spain.
The 27-year-old Brazil international, who quit Leeds to move to the Nou Camp two years ago, has already had offers from Saudi Arabia but has rejected them. And he is now wanted by teams in the Premier League. But Barca will only allow the player to leave if they can sign a left winger in his place.
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Raphinha spent two seasons with Leeds in the Premier League and bagged 17 goals and 12 assists during 65 top-flight appearances. But he couldn’t prevent the Yorkshire side dropping down into the Championship following their relegation in 2023.
New Liverpool boss Arne Slot would surely jump at the chance of landing Raphinha if Diaz does depart Merseyside. And the Dutchman may even be planning for life without the Colombia international after the player’s father previously revealed it was his son’s dream to play for Barcelona.
“The truth is that I know very little about Barcelona at the moment,” Luis Diaz Snr explained last year. “It is true that Luis is a loyal Barcelona fan and it would be his dream to go there. So far I would like to thank Porto and Liverpool for the way they welcomed him and received him.
“Luis is a player who finds it easy to win [fans] over because of the way he is, because of his humility, his work, his dedication. He is a very disciplined player, thank God. There would be no problem if Luis came to Barcelona because it is a top team and one of the best in the world.”
