Raphinha contract renewal talks are firmly on Barcelona’s to-do list. Sporting director Deco confirmed on Thursday that the Blaugrana intend to open discussions with their captain over fresh terms, hours after the Brazilian’s latest two-goal night lifted him into the club’s Champions League record books.
Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC1, in an interview relayed by SPORT and Barca Universal, Deco addressed Raphinha’s status at the club, the winger’s transformation into Hansi Flick’s centre-forward, and the Ballon d’Or shortlist that left him out. On the last of those, the Portuguese did not hold back.
Raphinha contract renewal: ‘One of the players we want to keep’
Raphinha’s current deal runs until 2028, and Deco made clear the club are already thinking beyond it. “We’re always keeping a close eye on our players to ensure we’re on top of contract matters,” he said. “There’s also a question of meritocracy. We don’t want any imbalances, where one player is ranked below another, to avoid problems. He’s one of the players we want to keep for another year. We’ll speak to him.”
It is a notable line from a sporting director who has spent much of the past fortnight defending Barcelona’s failed pursuit of a striker. Deco was also asked whether the squad lacks a natural number nine after the summer rebuild, and he pushed back.
“We’re not short of a goalscorer. Raphinha is doing very well,” he said. “Gabriel, who’s the closest to a number nine, is a team player. Hamza, on the other hand, is a proper number nine — one with a bright future.”
That is a reference to Gabriel Jesus, who arrived from Arsenal on deadline day and wears the No.9, and to Barca Atletic forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who has already made his first-team debut this season.
The captaincy that was ‘a well-deserved honour’
Flick named Raphinha as his first captain for 2026/27, and Deco framed the decision as the natural end point of a long climb rather than a gesture.
“The captaincy is a well-deserved honour. Every player has their pride, their personal side. Being captain of Barca is a dream,” he said. “Raphinha has built his reputation in the dressing room and at the club; it doesn’t happen overnight. He’s happy here. Flick has always brought out the best in him.”
The evidence is piling up. Raphinha’s brace in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Feyenoord took him to eight goals in five competitive matches — a start bettered in Barcelona’s history only by Sandor Kocsis, who managed nine in 1958-59, according to data from Oriol Jove cited by Mundo Deportivo. He is also the first Barca player since Luis Suarez, in that same 1958-59 campaign, to score in each of the club’s opening five games of a season.
Wednesday’s second goal, meanwhile, moved him into the top five of Barcelona’s all-time Champions League scorers on 21. Only Lionel Messi (126), Luis Suarez (25), Rivaldo (25) and Robert Lewandowski (23) sit above him.
‘A global scandal’: Deco on the Ballon d’Or snub
Raphinha and Pedri were both left off the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, a decision Deco called indefensible. “It’s a global scandal. I don’t understand the shortlists. Individual awards are unfair,” he said.
Flick, for his part, has thrown his weight behind Lamine Yamal, who is nominated. “He’s my player, of course I believe that. He deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. He’s an exceptional, special player,” the coach told reporters after the Feyenoord game, before praising Raphinha’s “great” intensity in the same breath.
The man himself is refusing to engage. Named man of the match at the Spotify Camp Nou, Raphinha was asked about the omission and, per Mundo Deportivo, replied simply: “I don’t talk about this, I talk about Barcelona. We’re having a spectacular season.”
On his own scoring run, the captain offered only a grin and two words: “I’m working.” On this evidence, Barcelona would be wise to get that renewal signed before anyone else notices how well.
