Barcelona’s Raphinha Reprieve as Al-Hilal Targets Salah
For weeks, Barcelona have lived with the idea that one of Hansi Flick’s key wide men could be prised away by Saudi money. Now, almost by accident, the pressure has eased.
Raphinha, a cornerstone of Flick’s attacking plans, had been high on Al-Hilal’s list and at the centre of a looming tug-of-war. The Saudi Pro League powerhouse, armed with vast resources and a long-standing admiration for the Brazilian, were expected to come again after the 2026 FIFA World Cup and test Barcelona’s resolve.
Instead, the spotlight has shifted. And it has landed on Mohamed Salah.
Al-Hilal Change Target
According to SPORT, Al-Hilal have ramped up their pursuit of the Liverpool forward, effectively making Salah their priority signing in attack. That single change of direction has given Barcelona something they have lacked all summer in this saga: breathing space.
Raphinha is still on Al-Hilal’s shortlist. That has not changed. But he is no longer the main obsession.
The Saudi club have put forward a bold proposal for Salah: a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season and a net salary of €20 million per year. It is the same financial level they were believed to have prepared for Raphinha, underlining the seriousness of their intent.
This is not speculative interest. It is a full-scale push for one of the Premier League’s most decisive forwards.
Raphinha Focused on Recovery, Not Exit
While his name swirls in the market, Raphinha’s day-to-day reality is very different. His immediate battle is not with Al-Hilal’s offer, but with the clock.
The winger is immersed in an intensive rehabilitation programme, working through three training sessions a day as he races to be fit in time for a possible World Cup quarter-final on July 5, should Brazil navigate their next knockout tie. His focus, for now, is on his country and his body, not on contracts.
Recent reports suggested Raphinha had asked Al-Hilal to pick up conversations again once his World Cup duties were over. That line of communication may still exist, but the urgency has changed. With Salah now at the front of the Saudi queue, the heat around the Brazilian’s future has cooled, at least in the short term.
A Familiar Temptation, Reduced Threat
Barcelona know this story well. Al-Hilal’s interest in Raphinha is not new and not theoretical.
In the summer of 2024, shortly after Hansi Flick arrived at Spotify Camp Nou, the Saudi club launched a staggering attempt to lure the winger away from Spain. Reports at the time spoke of a three-year contract worth €100 million net. Raphinha himself later acknowledged that the offer forced him to think seriously about his future.
When a player is confronted with that kind of money, every loyalty is tested.
This time, though, the dynamic is different. With Al-Hilal concentrating their financial and strategic firepower on Salah, Barcelona’s fears of an immediate Raphinha departure have eased. The Brazilian remains an appealing option for the Saudis, but not the first name on the list.
For Flick and for a club still rebuilding both on and off the pitch, that shift matters. It buys time. It offers a window to strengthen ties with a player who has become central to their plans.
The question now is simple: will Barcelona use this unexpected reprieve to secure Raphinha’s long-term commitment, or will this only be a pause before the next wave of Saudi pressure crashes over Camp Nou?
