Raphinha eyes Barcelona contract extension, dreams of retiring at Camp Nou

By Ihuoma Inyama

Barcelona captain Raphinha has confirmed his desire to extend his contract with the club and finish his playing career at Camp Nou.

The Brazil international’s future had been the subject of speculation during the summer, but his impressive start to the new season has strengthened his commitment to Barcelona.

Raphinha, who was appointed first captain by manager Hansi Flick this season, has responded with a prolific run of form. He currently leads the La Liga scoring charts with nine goals and recently scored a hat-trick against Racing Santander.

His current Barcelona contract runs until 2028, but sporting director Deco has already indicated that the club wants to secure the winger’s long-term future.

Raphinha has welcomed the prospect of extending his stay, revealing that his view changed after initially signing his current contract.

“I renewed until 2028 with the idea that, by then, I would be 30 or 31 years old and I didn’t know how I would manage,” Raphinha told RAC1.

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The 29-year-old said his physical condition and current form have convinced him that he can continue performing at the highest level for several more seasons.

“But given how I’ve started the season, I understand that I have enough to last a few more years.”

Raphinha also made clear that he would prefer to remain at Barcelona rather than seek another move later in his career.

“So, yes, I would be happy to extend my contract a little and finish my career here without having to go anywhere else.”

The winger’s resurgence has coincided with his increased responsibility as captain, while his goalscoring form has made him a central figure in Barcelona’s early-season campaign.

He will look to continue that run when Barcelona travel to face Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Saturday.

Raphinha has also made an impact in Europe, scoring twice in Barcelona’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord.

With his current deal still running until 2028, discussions over a possible extension could now become one of Barcelona’s priorities as the club seeks to retain its captain for the long term.