Barcelona hold meeting with captain to open renewal talks after stunning start to season | OneFootball

The summer transfer window may be closed, but work behind the scenes continues at FC Barcelona.

The Blaugrana have begun work on renewing contracts of key first-team players as well as academy talents who have made promising breakthroughs.

Hamza Abdelkarim has already extended his deal, while Xavi Espart and Brian Farinas are in line for new deals. And, as confirmed by sporting director Deco, an extension for club captain Raphinha is also on the cards.

Meeting with Raphinha for renewal

Now, according to SPORT, Deco held an extended meeting with Raphinha in a Castelldefels restaurant on Tuesday lunchtime to begin discussions over a renewal for the Brazilian, whose current contract runs until 2028.

Also present at the meeting was Joan Laporta’s trusted aide Alejandro Echevarria and Raphinha’s wife, Taia Belloli.

The meeting was informal and friendly, but represents an important first step in talks that begin from a very positive position. Raphinha is keen to remain at Barcelona and is fully committed to the club.

Renewal talks get underway. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

There is, however, no urgency to reach an agreement. The 29-year-old still has close to two years remaining on his current deal and is completely focused on Barcelona’s objectives this season.

He has also established himself as one of the team’s dressing-room figures, becoming the first captain this season.

Raphinha is negotiating his own future

The situation has an interesting twist because Raphinha currently has no agent. The Brazilian handles negotiations over his future personally, meaning he is directly involved in discussions with the club and has first-hand knowledge of every detail.

His relationship with Deco goes back several years. Before becoming Barcelona’s sporting director, the Portuguese was Raphinha’s representative.

That professional relationship ended completely when Deco took up his role at Barcelona, although the strong personal relationship they developed during that period has remained.

Raphinha’s current contract expires in 2028. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The starting point for the renewal talks could hardly be more positive.

Raphinha is completely committed to Barcelona and has no intention of making negotiations difficult. He feels important at the club, is happy living in Barcelona and has become increasingly influential inside the dressing room.

The renewal still has to be negotiated in full, but the foundations are extremely strong. Barcelona want Raphinha to stay, and Raphinha wants to remain at the club.

After establishing himself as a captain, leader and one of the most important players in Hansi Flick’s squad, the Brazilian is now taking personal responsibility for another major decision in his career: determining the terms of his future at Camp Nou.