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If you take a step back from the artistry that Raphinha is producing
week in and week out for Leeds United and rather take a look at the last
couple of seasons leading up to his move to Elland Road, you'll soon notice
that the Brazilian is currently on a meteoric rise to the top. The good
news for Leeds is that they will be the beneficiaries of Raphinha's success.
That said, the question has to be asked; for how much longer? The 24-year-old
hasn't spent longer than a season at a club since 2018, when he joined
Sporting Lisbon. After only one season in the Portuguese top-flight, Raphina
was off to northwest France to sign for Rennes. A promising season in
Ligue 1 earned him a move to Leeds and, by now, you probably get the picture
and can quite clearly see the upward trajectory that his career is taking. ??"He has been a steal for Leeds, I'm
surprised more established PL teams did not go in for him"
Footballers like Raphinha are destined to play at the highest level of
European club football and the odds
on the 2020-2021 Premier League race for the top four currently place
Leeds at 25/1, which all but confirms that that West Yorkshire club won't
be playing in the Champions League next season. Once again, you have to try and see the bigger picture of Raphinha's
journey to understand the sacrifices he made to join Leeds and perhaps
what his greater goal was. Indeed, when
the Brazilian signed for the Whites, he left a club that was set to
play in the Champions League. A third palace finish for Rennes saw them
heading to Europe but Raphinha decided that a move to Leeds - in all likelihood
to fight for Premier League survival - was in his best interests. With four goals and four assists in 17 Premier League appearances so
far, you can say without any fear of being corrected that Raphinha's gamble
has more than paid off, with the 24-year-old having made an instant name
for himself thanks to some world-class performances. Furthermore, Leeds
aren't in any danger of going down and are in actual fact closer to a
Europa League position than relegation thanks to a comfortable
recent win over Crystal Palace. Now, you don't want to second guess Raphinha's motivation for moving
to West Yorkshire but, in the space of five short months, he has produced
wonders on the greatest domestic stage of world football. Raphinha's got tricks ??
With the talented winger now being spoken about widely across the Premier
League and strong recurring rumours indicating that Jurgen Klopp will
ask Liverpool to swoop in for the Brazilian in the summer, can Leeds do
anything to stop him from leaving? Leeds are actually in an extremely strong position, having tied Raphinha
down to a four-year deal - so, in every way, the Whites hold all the cards
and any club wanting his services will have to have the deepest of pockets. But what does a club do if a player wants to leave? Raphinha has illustrated
over the last three seasons that he won't let sentiment get in the way
of his ambition to get to the very top. There's no hint of the new cult
hero wanting to leave Leeds, whatsoever, but if Michael Edwards, Liverpool's
technical director, picks up the phone in the summer and makes an offer
for Raphinha, will the Brazilian then angle for a move? 
Patrick Bamford is surprised that other Premier League teams did not
try and sign Raphinha before Leeds United @Patrick_Bamford
pic.twitter.com/Ptv9ekrRGN
(?? via @LUFC)pic.twitter.com/WNn9JUzE13