• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani admits he 'disrespected' Chelsea owner Todd Boehly over Raphinha deal

Home> Football

Published 10:24 5 Aug 2022 GMT+1

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani admits he 'disrespected' Chelsea owner Todd Boehly over Raphinha deal

A deal with Chelsea for winger Raphinha was "done", according to Radrizzani.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani felt "ashamed" when he told Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly that their position over Raphinha's transfer had changed.

Last month, after one of the longest-running transfer saga's of the window thus far, Barcelona finally completed the signing of Raphinha from Leeds in a deal worth up to £55 million.

But before that deal was signed, sealed and delivered, a number of clubs expressed an interest in signing the Brazilian forward, including Premier League outfit Chelsea.

Advert

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

In fact, in a fascinating interview with The Athletic this week, Leeds owner Radrizzani says a deal with Chelsea was "done" until the so-called "influences of Barcelona" came along and changed everything.

Radrizzani said: "For me, it was done, and when I have a deal my word is my word. I felt ashamed to go back to Todd Boehly and change my position.

Advert

"We made the deal with Chelsea because the player wanted to go and he was open to listening to offers from Premier League clubs.

"Chelsea was in his favourable [option]. But unfortunately, let’s say Barcelona influences convinced the player to wait, to wait, to wait until they could find a solution.

"This shows again the power and the leverage players and their agents have in the system, which for me is exaggerated, too much.

"We do a lot of investment to build clubs. We invest hundreds of millions but all the power it seems to be [with] agents and representatives of these players."

Advert

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

After penning a contract with Barcelona until 2027, the Brazil international said it was a dream come true to sign for the Catalan giants.

“All my idols played and made history here so it's a huge honour and I can't thank Barca enough for giving me the chance to wear this jersey," Raphinha said.

“I hope I can achieve half of what my idols accomplished here. It's a dream come true for me and my family. I'm going to do my best to help this club win (trophies).”

Barca president Joan Laporta is equally as excited over the deal. “The beautiful game is back to Barcelona and that's very meaningful to our club," he said.

Advert

"For us, it is very exciting because all of us who have lived through Barca golden times, there has always been a Brazilian.

“Raphinha reminds us of this tradition; and he is here to pick up that baton.

"Xavi wanted to have Raphinha and we have done what we could. At all times, Raphinha has shown his desire to sign for Barca and that has been very important."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/The Athletic

Topics: Chelsea, Raphinha, Leeds United, Barcelona, Premier League

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • 11 hours ago

    Pep Guardiola drops bombshell on Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush penalty mix-up that cost Man City the FA Cup

    Guardiola has made his feelings clear on the incident.

    Football
  • 12 hours ago

    Crystal Palace star cruelly forced to miss FA Cup celebrations and trophy lift following win over Man City

    Palace lifted the FA Cup trophy at Wembley after beating Manchester City - but one of their key players was absent.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Dean Henderson confirms what he said to Pep Guardiola after the final whistle that enraged Man City boss

    Henderson and Guardiola had an angry exchange at the end of the FA Cup final.

    Football
  • 14 hours ago

    Four Premier League clubs handed devastating blow after Crystal Palace win FA Cup final

    Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to lift their first-ever major trophy.

    Football
  • Stunning report claims Todd Boehly is ‘considering his options’ as Chelsea owner after just two years in charge
  • Leeds owner 'ashamed' of Raphinha to Barcelona saga after Todd Boehly Chelsea promise
  • Raphinha turned down outrageous offer from Premier League club this summer and it would've changed everything
  • Chelsea 'could face exclusion from Europe' as UEFA 'ban' loophole used by Todd Boehly