Raphinha under pressure at Barcelona as £70m Anthony Gordon ramps up wing rivalry

Barcelona winger Raphinha will join the club’s training camp at St George’s Park on Tuesday knowing he faces his toughest season yet at the Catalan side, with senior figures open to his sale and intense new competition for his place.

The La Liga club have been working in England since Monday and are preparing for a campaign in which the Brazil international’s status is under serious scrutiny. Executives and directors at Barcelona are described as receptive to offers for the 29-year-old, whose position on the left flank is now heavily contested.

Barcelona have invested heavily in former Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, paying €70m for the England international in a deal that could rise to €80m if performance-related bonuses agreed with the Premier League club are met. Gordon is expected to compete directly with Raphinha for the left-wing role.

Raphinha is about to begin his fifth season at Barcelona and, according to Spanish outlet Marca, has again reported for pre-season “with big ambitions, a strong desire to improve and great happiness at being part of the Catalan team”. Yet this summer the context around him has shifted more sharply than in previous years.

Gordon and Adeyemi raise stakes on the flanks

Gordon is one of two major attacking signings made by Barcelona in this transfer window, alongside Germany forward Karim Adeyemi. Both are comfortable operating from the left and bring similar attributes: pace, direct dribbling, the ability to link play between midfield and attack, and a goal threat from wide areas.

In addition to the new arrivals, head coach Hansi Flick can also call upon Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres for that same position, further crowding the competition for minutes on the flank.

This depth has strengthened the resolve of influential voices within the club who argue that Raphinha’s departure would be both technically manageable and financially attractive. The former Leeds United winger is thought to have strong market interest and a valuation in the region of €70m.

Those advocating a sale believe Barcelona are well covered in his position and could use a substantial transfer fee to ease their economic pressures and reinvest elsewhere in the squad.

Injury record fuels calls for a sale

Concerns over Raphinha’s fitness have also been cited internally. He missed 17 matches last season because of injury, a statistic that has been used by those pushing for his exit to question his reliability over the length of the campaign.

Despite that, Raphinha’s own stance remains firm. He has a contract with Barcelona until June 2028 and has made clear he intends to see it through. The winger has already turned down several lucrative approaches from Saudi Arabian clubs keen to sign him, underlining his preference to stay at the highest level in European football and continue at the Camp Nou.

Determined response from a player used to adversity

Those close to the player point out that Raphinha has a long history of overcoming obstacles. Coming from a difficult childhood background, he is said to have made significant sacrifices and faced numerous challenges before establishing himself in Europe and earning his move to Barcelona.

He is now preparing for the new season “with enthusiasm and self-confidence”, aware that his place is under more threat than at any point since he arrived but determined to compete with Gordon, Adeyemi and the rest of Flick’s attacking options.

Whether that determination will be enough to alter the thinking of key decision-makers remains to be seen. For now, as Barcelona train at St George’s Park and build towards the new campaign, Raphinha’s future at the club is more uncertain than at any stage of his four previous seasons in Catalonia.