Raphinha Reveals London 'Red' And 'Blue' Team Offers Before Barcelona Transfer

Barcelona winger Raphinha has opened up about his 2022 departure from Leeds United, revealing he turned down lucrative offers from London's premier clubs – widely understood to be Chelsea and Arsenal – to secure a move to the Camp Nou. 

In a new interview, the Brazil international labeled his choice as the greatest decision of his professional career.

Raphinha has confirmed that his path to the Spotify Camp Nou was not without its hurdles, revealing that multiple London-based clubs were desperate to keep him in the Premier League. 

During the summer of 2022, the former Leeds talisman was at the center of a high-profile transfer tug-of-war involving some of the biggest names in English football.

Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil, the 27-year-old reflected on the intense speculation that surrounded his future before he ultimately chose to join the Catalan giants. 

"I had offers from a Blue team and also a Red team from London, but the best decision of my career was signing for Barcelona," Raphinha revealed, likely alluding to interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 17: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Spotify Camp Nou on May 17, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

While the financial lures of the Premier League elite were significant, Raphinha’s heart was set on following in the footsteps of legendary Brazilians like Ronaldinho and Neymar at Barça. 

Since making the switch, the winger has justified his decision by becoming a central figure in the squad, contributing to a period of sustained domestic success.

The forward has navigated various challenges in