Raphinha will have much to thank Deco for. The Leeds United winger’s agent swiped him from Brazilian obscurity and placed him in Portugal’s top flight before engineering his rise through Sporting CP, Rennes and then to the most-watched division in the world.
While Deco has talked the talk with clubs, Raphinha has had to walk the walk and back up his representative’s undoubtedly bold proclamations about Brazil’s next big thing. As he approaches the final two years of his Leeds deal, it is clear Deco and Raphinha are plotting the next phase of his career and where it takes him.
Does it even need to take him anywhere else? Many Whites fans would say not. As they weigh up Raphinha’s options, of which there will be many from Europe’s top table, and deservedly so for the football he has delivered for club and country, the forward would be minded to ensure he is not forced in any one direction.
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Deco may be Raphinha’s agent, but he is firmly entrenched within Barcelona too. The 44-year-old had four very successful years at the Nou Camp during the Frank Rijkaard era which preceded Pep Guardiola’s golden age.
Joan Laporta, who brought the Brazilian to Barcelona all those years ago, is president once more and brought his old friend on board as the Spanish giants’ principal scout in South America earlier this season. Deco has been tasked with bringing the best of that continent’s young players to Catalunya before they explode onto their rivals’ radars.
Raphinha is one such success story behind Deco’s recruitment background on that continent. There can be little surprise in seeing the explosion of recent stories about Barcelona’s interest in Raphinha from Sport, the daily sports newspaper based in the city.
There is no doubt the Leeds winger is good enough for Barcelona and Deco stands to benefit on all fronts if that move happens. He would bring one of his key assets to one of the best-known football clubs in the world while satisfying his paymasters and old friends at Barca.
You would imagine the financial aspects of a deal like that are kind to an agent too. Even if Raphinha does feel ready to fly the Leeds nest, it would be in his best interests to see all avenues are being opened to him and his family.
Deco has a conflict of interest in his role as Barca recruiter and Raphinha’s agent. Elland Road’s talisman must ensure he keeps asking all the right questions if and when the wheels start turning in the summer. He needs to ensure if he leaves Leeds, it’s for the right destination and for the right reasons.
