The Rumour Mill

A Brazilian from Barca on loan?

25/06/2013 |

Comments (18)

The Mirror claims that Everton are a likely destination for 20-year-old Barcelona striker Rafinha. The young Brazilian, aka Rafa Alcântara, is a attacking midfielder who has been with the Catalans for seven years and worked his way up to the Barcelona B-team.

Original Source: The Mirror Rumour source ranking:
1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; Empty (grey) = Unranked

Reader Comments

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Andrew Ellams
228 Posted 25/06/2013 at 17:07:47

So is he a striker or attacking midfielder?

Phil Sammon
234 Posted 25/06/2013 at 17:20:23

I'm sure he's a good player with bags of potential...but Barca will want him out playing games if he is to go on loan. We have our own talented youngsters who deserve minutes on the pitch and it makes no sense for us to be developing players that we don't own.

If we do dip into the loan market the incoming player should be good enough to start games and also have an option for us to buy him outright.

Jon Ferguson
245 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:01:26

Agree with Phil.

Steve Pugh
255 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:29:37

Who says he's not?

Jim Knightley
259 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:39:15

Honestly, I'd value a highly rated Barca mid over the ones we have coming through, with the possible exception of Barkley. This guy has got 11 goals from midfield at the age of 20 in the second tier of Spanish football...seems a good return to me? With an incredibly talented midfield ahead of him, a loan deal may turn into a permanent deal if he works out. He could our next Arteta...why not take him on?

Dan Brierley
260 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:48:33

It only make sense if we have an option to buy, and we are able to afford it. There would be nothing worse than seeing the lad develop with us, and another club with money getting the benefit...

Norman Merrill
263 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:56:12

Regardless of what the lad from Barca is like, I would hope that Roberto has a good look at some of our youngsters, like the five that are with the Under 20's,
With the exception of Barkley, Garbutt, Landstrum, Jones, & Stones, did not get a look in with Moyes.
I am sure Martinez will be well aware of the talent, just give it more opportunity to show what they can do, in pre-season.

Mark Frere
264 Posted 25/06/2013 at 18:55:15

Everything is really a question of selling Fellaini. If we can sell Fellaini we can buy our own permanent signings, if not,we will be left with the option of loan signings like this Barcelona-B-team player.

Martinez will probably have £10 million or so to spend if Fellaini stays and we would have to think that, the money would be spent on a striker

Sam Hoare
273 Posted 25/06/2013 at 19:17:12

Don't really see the point in this one unless the lad is firstly good enough to be in our first team and secondly comes with an option to buy. Don't see this one as very likely.

James Martin
277 Posted 25/06/2013 at 19:51:43

Isn't his brother potentially off to Man U after becoming disillusioned with life behind Xavi and Iniesta. A loan deal with a look to buying might make sense if the whole family wanted to relocate to the NorthWest.

Phil Sammon
283 Posted 25/06/2013 at 20:28:51

Relocating to the England's NorthWest...It's every Catalonian's dream.

Ross Edwards
288 Posted 25/06/2013 at 21:07:58

I thought you meant Dani Alves then. Damn.

Mark Murphy
292 Posted 25/06/2013 at 21:22:05

How would we apply for a work permit for a South American reserve player?

James Stewart
379 Posted 26/06/2013 at 02:50:42

Well he's a wonderkid according to Football Manager must be true!

Andrew Ellams
404 Posted 26/06/2013 at 08:43:03

Mark Murphy he is been in Spain since he was 13 so quite possibly has an EU passport

Alex Parr
712 Posted 27/06/2013 at 03:28:00

Someone mentioned above his brother... This Rafinha is indeed the younger brother of Thiago who is supposedly on his way to Man Utd. By some accounts he is (was) more highly rated than Thiago at similar ages. My initial thoughts was that this is balls, but it might not be.

Certainly not a crap player to take on loan (with a view to buy once he gets the Goodison fever of course). From what I hear, he is head and shoulders above our equivalent, Ross Barkley. But I would also love to see Rossy B get a lot more playing time next season.

Vijay Nair
713 Posted 27/06/2013 at 03:56:51

Looks like he played for Spain at U16, U17 and U19 levels than decided on Brazil U20 unlike his brother.

He's also the son of Mazinho, who won the 94 World Cup with Brazil... Good pedigree!

Vijay Nair
714 Posted 27/06/2013 at 04:00:32

Andrew (228) — An attacking midfielder, according to Wiki.

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