Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of Raphinha, with Barcelona reportedly poised to tie the Brazilian down to a new long-term contract, according to TEAMtalk.

Barcelona secure Raphinha’s future

The Catalan giants are said to have agreed fresh terms with the forward, who is expected to commit to a four-year deal. Head coach Hansi Flick is understood to have pushed for the negotiations to be made a priority, keen to protect one of his most influential attackers. Raphinha’s existing contract runs until 2028, and that timeline had encouraged interest from Manchester United and clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Since arriving at Camp Nou in a deal reported to be worth at least £50 million, Raphinha has become a talismanic figure for the Blaugrana, delivering goals and assists in abundance. Barcelona were never likely to entertain offers for him.

Arsenal and Spurs left frustrated

Mikel Arteta’s side had reportedly viewed Raphinha as an ideal attacking addition, given his ability to operate centrally as well as out wide. A sizeable bid may have been considered had Barcelona shown any willingness to sell, but that scenario has now vanished.

Spurs, meanwhile, are said to have kept a close watch on the player since January and possess the financial muscle to invest heavily in their squad. A signing of that calibre would have made a statement, yet the door now appears firmly shut, at least for the time being.

Our view: what next?

In our view, both clubs were always chasing a long shot. Barcelona rarely lose their standout performers cheaply, and Raphinha’s importance to Flick’s system makes him close to untouchable. Arsenal and Tottenham would be better served turning their attention to alternatives who can offer similar versatility, because waiting on a player who is happy in Catalonia is a wasted exercise. The challenge now is finding comparable impact elsewhere.