Barcelona fast-tracks Raphinha renewal: contract extension and salary upgrade on the table

Barcelona have started the process to secure Raphinha's long-term future. Talks between the club and the Brazilian winger are well advanced, with both sides working to extend a contract that currently runs until 2028. The goal is clear: to keep the player, reward his growing importance in the team, and do so without unsettling the wage structure.

• Barcelona and Raphinha are negotiating a contract extension beyond 2028.
• The club wants to raise the Brazilian's salary, but cautiously to avoid breaking the wage cap.
• Saudi Arabia made a huge financial offer to the player at the start of the summer.
• Raphinha listened to the proposal, but chose to stay at Barcelona.
• The deal could be closed in the final stretch of the year.

A renewal that goes beyond adding extra years to the contract

Transfer market specialist Matteo Moretto explained on La Pizarra that the negotiation between Barcelona and Raphinha is at a very advanced stage. The plan is not limited to extending the length of the deal. The club also wants to update the forward's financial conditions, a recognition of his performances in recent seasons.

Raphinha's current contract expires in 2028, but Barcelona are looking at both the duration and the salary. The two sides expect to reach an agreement before the end of the year. That is the schedule they are working with, and both parties are fully open to closing the deal.

Saudi Arabia made a huge push for Raphinha last summer

Saudi Arabian clubs showed real interest in Raphinha a few months ago. At the beginning of the summer, they approached the winger and tabled a very significant financial offer. The player did not dismiss it immediately. He listened to the proposal and considered the possibility, but staying at Barcelona was always his main priority.

At the beginning of the summer Saudi Arabia tested Raphinha and presented him with a very important offer. It is not that he did not want to consider it, he listened, but he prioritized Barça.

That decision underlines the Brazilian's commitment to the Catalan project. At 28, Raphinha is enjoying one of the most complete spells of his career and has become a regular fixture in the Barcelona starting eleven. The board knows his value and is moving to protect it.

Barcelona want to reward Raphinha without breaking the wage cap

Barcelona are willing to improve Raphinha's salary, but they will not put the club's wage structure at risk. The club remains highly aware of the need to manage its salary cap responsibly, especially after several seasons in which financial balance has been an absolute priority.

The plan is to raise the winger's salary moderately, with an amount that does not destabilize the overall wage bill. Barcelona see salary management as a key part of the club's long-term sustainability and are not prepared to compromise it with any single deal.

They want to improve his deal a little, because Barça do not want to break the salary cap. They do not want to increase it too much because the most important thing at a club is to manage wages, so the structure stays as healthy as possible.

What a new contract would mean for Barcelona's sporting project

Keeping Raphinha at Barcelona for longer would carry serious strategic value. The Brazilian has shown himself to be a difference-maker in attack, with the ability to link play, beat defenders and score goals. His continuity would allow the sporting department to plan without urgency in one of the most important areas of the starting eleven.

The club's move also sends a clear internal message: Barcelona are ready to retain their key players with selective salary upgrades, as long as those increases remain affordable. That approach fits the controlled financial policy the club has followed in recent years.

Anthony Martial could get a final answer from Malaga within 48 hours

Anthony Martial's future is also about to be decided. Malaga have told the French forward's camp that they will make a final decision on his potential arrival within 48 hours. The Spanish club is still crunching the numbers before giving the green light to the operation.

Martial knows exactly what he wants: to return to Spain and join Malaga. He has prioritized that option for personal reasons, even though he has received offers from Saudi Arabia and from clubs in the Americas. The ball is now in Malaga's court as they examine whether the deal fits within their financial limits.

Javier Aguirre emerges as Valencia's top candidate for the dugout

Valencia have a clear favorite to take over the first team: Javier Aguirre. The Mexican coach is the best positioned candidate for the role, and the job appeals strongly to him. Valencia know that Aguirre is eager to accept the challenge and that he is currently one of the strongest options available on the market.

Until a decision is made, reserve team coach Óscar Sánchez will remain in charge for the match against Real Sociedad. The Valencia dressing room is fully behind his work, which gives the board some breathing room to finalize the appointment of the new head coach.

Frequently asked questions about Raphinha's renewal