Who is Raphinha - Rennes winger in profile as Leeds United target deadline day transfer

It’s been a busy summer transfer window at Leeds United with 11 players coming through the doors of Thorp Arch, five of which for the first team.

With the international transfer window closing at 11pm this evening, Leeds United are still on the hunt for another addition. Leeds have maintained a strong interest in 22-year-old Manchester United winger Dan James throughout the summer, but the Whites have been keeping a close eye on Rennes winger Raphinha and looks to be the club’s newest addition.

So, who is Leeds United’s potential new arrival?

Who is Raphinha?

Raphinha was born on December 14 1996 and raised in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the same city Brazilian star Ronaldinho grew up. He began his footballing career at Brazilian topflight side Avai FC in 2014 before making a move to Portuguese side Vitória Guimarães B in February 2016.

He impressed in a short space of time and Guimarães manager Sergio Conceicao handed the 23-year-old his first-team debut just a month later.

Between the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons Raphinha netted 22 times and assisted 13 goals in 84 appearances for Vitória Guimarães, which earned him a move to Portugese giants and Cristiano Ronaldo’s boyhood club, Sporting CP.

The Brazilian enjoyed just one season at Sporting where he featured 41 times in total, which included making his debut in the Europa League, scoring nine times and assisting five goals. He made his move to Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennais FC on the final day of the 2019 summer transfer window, a move which Rennes club president Olivier Letang called the “biggest transfer in modern history of Stade Rennais,” at the time. It was his Sporting team-mate, ex-Rennes goalkeeper Romain Salin, who encouraged him to make the move to France.

Raphinha was brought in as a replacement for Watford-bound Ismalia Sarr. He scored five goals and got three assists in the league last season, and his skill and pace helped Rennes achieve their highest-ever position in Ligue 1, qualifying for the Champions League with a third-place finish.

This season, Raphinha has featured six times for Rennes, scoring two goals and getting two assists. That goal and one of those assists came only last Sunday where he played the full 90 minutes for Rennes in their 2-2 draw at home with Reims. He has since travelled to Leeds to have a medical ahead of the 11pm deadline this evening.

Where would Raphinha fit in in Marcelo Bielsa's setup at Leeds United?

Marcelo Bielsa already has five wingers to choose from at Leeds; Jack Harrison, Helder Costa, Gjanni Alioski, Ian Poveda, summer signing Crysencio Summerville, and six if you count Stuart Dallas who can also play as a winger.

Raphinha, who brings vast amounts of experience from his time playing in some of Europe’s major competitions, would certainly be in contention for a starting place. However, some would argue that Jack Harrison and Helder Costa deserve to keep their starting place after an impressive start to life in the Premier League season. Raphinha’s arrival would surely leave the head coach with some selection headaches, but Bielsa will know he will have another incredibly talented player at his disposal.

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