He has been linked with another move to Arsenal, but Raphinha would have to content himself with a number he does not like if he joins
Raphinha will have to content himself with a new number if he decides to swap Barcelona for Arsenal. The Gunners have reportedly been given the ‘green light’ to sign the Brazilian international by the player’s representatives.
For three of the last four years, Raphinha has either worn the No 10 or the No 11 shirt. When he joined Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022, he was given the No 22 shirt on arrival, before he was handed the No 11 jersey.
However, Raphinha’s future is uncertain as he has seemingly been usurped by left-sided 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. If Raphinha was convinced to join the Gunners, two years after he snubbed them to move to the Catalans, he may have to wear a less-than-palatable shirt number.
At present, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli wear the No 10 and No 11 jerseys, respectively. Bukayo Saka also wears the No 7 jersey, which may have piqued Raphinha’s interest.
Yet, Raphinha may not have too many options, other than to deal with a number he has not worn for a long time. According to HITC, Barcelona are willing to sell Raphinha as a means of easing their current financial woes.
In addition, the 27-year-old’s representatives have also given Arsenal the go-ahead to pursue any interest they have in him. He would be jostling with Saka for a place on the right flank, while Fabio Vieira has also played on that wing in the past.
However, the No 10 could also become free if the Gunners part with Smith-Rowe. The Gunners’ academy star has fallen behind Kai Havertz, Martinelli, Saka, and Martin Odegaard in the pecking order of Arteta’s frontline.
The Gunners are understood to have rejected an initial £30million offer from Fulham for the England U21s international and have no intentions to sell unless it suits all parties. Smith-Rowe was once seen as an integral player, but injuries and the improved form of his other attacking colleagues have seen him tumble down the pecking order.
Arteta may still be willing to hold onto the 23-year-old, considering his comments in April. When asked if Smith-Rowe still has a part to play at the club, Arteta said: “I just look at him and what happened in the last seasons especially, but what happened three seasons [ago] as well.
“And, you could see, the hell of a player that we have in him when he is fit and he is playing at that level.” By rejecting the £30m offer, it means the No 10 shirt looks unlikely to become vacant anytime soon and with Martinelli occupying the No 11 – and a certainty to stay put – Raphinha’s options look slim if he makes the move.
The only numbers currently available that may suit Raphinha are 13, 16, 17 – a number he’s worn in the past – 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28. The number 81, the jersey he wore when he first broke through at Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of his career, is also up for grabs.
