Manchester City may well need some attacking reinforcements through the door this summer.
Indeed, despite being the highest-scoring team in Europe last season, City may soon find themselves short in the attack as the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva potentially gear up to leave the club.
Mahrez’s move to Saudi Arabia appears to be advancing, and if the Algerian does leave, City will need a new right-winger.
Luckily, it looks as though they have a contingency plan in mind, and according to Footmercato, Raphinha is one option for the reigning European champions.
This would be an interesting addition to say the least.
Raphinha is a player who reminds us a lot of Mahrez. A left-footed right winger who loves to cut inside, the Brazilian is very much cut from the same cloth.
When you look at Raphinha’s footballing education, it’s not hard to see that the 27-year-old would be a great fit for Pep Guardiola’s style of play.
He’s played under Marcelo Bielsa – a manager who famously helped shape Guardiola’s style, while he’s spent the past year playing under Xavi at Barcelona – perhaps the most notable Pep disciple in world football.
So, what would Raphinha bring to this City team? He’s got great technique, he’s got an incredible engine, and, on top of that, he’s one of the fastest players in Europe.
Indeed, The Speeds Database clock Raphinha’s top speed as 33.71 km/h, and that’s even faster than the likes of Marcus Rashford – a noted speedster in his own right.
It takes a certain type of player to play in this Manchester City attack, and while it’s tough to find the right sort of winger for this role, Raphinha does actually tick a number of key boxes.
Keep an eye on this rumour if Mahrez’s move away continues to gather pace.
