Sport nationLeeds United may be reflecting on their decision not to include a sell-on clause in the transfer deal of Raphinha to FC Barcelona, as reported by Simmey Hannifin-Donaldson for FootballLeagueWorld. The Brazilian winger, who was a pivotal figure for Leeds during their time in the Premier League, was sold to Barcelona in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of £49 million, with an additional £6 million in potential add-ons.
Raphinha’s time at Leeds was marked by significant contributions, with 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 appearances. His performances attracted attention from several English clubs, but Barcelona won the race for his signature. However, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider has suggested that Leeds might regret not negotiating a sell-on clause, especially in light of recent developments.
Al-Hilal, a club in the Saudi Pro League, is reportedly prepared to offer up to £86 million for Raphinha and is willing to triple his salary. With interest also from Liverpool and Spurs, the potential for a lucrative transfer is evident. A sell-on clause, similar to the one Coventry City included in the sale of Viktor Gyokeres to Sporting, could have entitled Leeds to a percentage of any future transfer fee.
The absence of such a clause means Leeds will not benefit financially from any subsequent sale of Raphinha, which could be seen as a missed opportunity given the reported figures involved. The new ownership at Leeds is advised to learn from this oversight to ensure better outcomes in future player sales.
Sport nation
Amina Umar