Barcelona risk losing former Inter midfielder Rafinha at a cut-price fee as the Brazilian is unwilling to extend his contract with the Catalan club, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Rafinha spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Inter, making 17 appearances in Serie A under Luciano Spalletti, but returned to his parent club in the summer after the Nerazzurri baulked at his €35 million price tag.
Barcelona had hoped to sell the player on a permanent basis but they did not receive any offers they deemed to be satisfactory, meaning that they are now required to extend the 25 year-old’s contract – which expires in 2020 – in order to avoid losing him on the cheap.
However Rafinha is said to be very reluctant to sign a new deal with the Blaugrana, as he is not part of head coach Ernesto Valverde’s plans going forward and does not expect to be afforded much game-time this season.
In particular the rumours surrounding Barcelona’s pursuit of other midfielders, such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrian Rabiot and Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong, have convinced the player that it would be better for him to continue his career elsewhere.
Mundo Deportivo does not mention Inter in their report, but should the stalemate between the two parties continue it is possible that the Nerazzurri will make another attempt to bring Rafinha back to Italy in January.
