Hansi Flick's Barcelona have made a superb start to the new season despite a managerial change, a shift in tactics and financial struggles.
The manager's new 4-2-3-1 system brings a new direct and attack-oriented approach to the team, with several players shining in the new setup. One player who has benefited greatly from this change is Raphinha.
From being left out of the squad less than a month ago to becoming one of the team's most important players on the pitch, the Brazilian has come a long way in his limited time. However, as Fichajes pointed out, his future is still unclear.
Interest from the Premier League
The Spanish outlet reports that Aston Villa are looking to strengthen their attacking depth ahead of the new season and are exploring potential candidates to do so.
In this regard, Raphinha appears to be one of their top targets for the current summer transfer window.
Aston Villa manager Una Emery admires the Barcelona star's profile and sees him as an ideal candidate to fill the void created by the departure of Moussa Diaby.
However, unlike a month ago, Badelona no longer sees Raphinha as a saleable asset at the moment despite his dire financial situation.
The Brazilian is a vital piece of Hansi Flick’s puzzle and his departure at this point would be a huge blow for the club, as they have no means of bringing in a player of similar calibre.
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With less than a week left in the transfer market, it remains to be seen if Aston Villa put any pressure on Barcelona in the coming days. Still, it's safe to say the player is closer to staying than leaving.
In the three games so far this season, the forward has created four big chances, provided an average of three key passes per game and has one assist to his name. In addition, he completes two dribbles per game and has missed two big chances.
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