A storm is brewing in La Liga, because while Real Madrid are very optimistic about their 2026/27 season chances after hiring Jose Mourinho to be their new manager and overhauling their defense with another big signing potentially on the way, Barcelona have been making big moves, too.
Barcelona are stacking up their attack even further. Robert Lewandowski has moved on to MLS, but he was already the backup anyway. And while quality backup left winger Marcus Rashford was not retained and is now back at Old Trafford, Barca have now signed two new wingers to replace him.
The Blaugrana spent big on English speedster Anthony Gordon, who is having a positive World Cup with the Three Lions, and now they just secured an explosive Bundesliga talent in Karim Adeyemi, who was so good as a prospect for RB Salzburg that Real Madrid and Barcelona had both thought about signing him then.
Raphinha is a threat to Real Madrid
Real Madrid fans are seeing Barcelona match power for power with Real's defensive additions, and they are stacking up that left wing. Barca sporting director Joan Laporta confirmed that any Real fans who were under the impression Raphinha could go would be mistaken.
Laporta told reporters of Raphinha's future, via Fabrizio Romano, “We do not want Raphinha to leave. He’s a key player for us. The arrivals of Gordon and Adeyemi are not linked to Raphinha, it doesn’t mean Rapha is leaving”.
Raphinha has been a massive thorn in Real Madrid's side, and in head to head games against Barcelona, it has been the Brazilian counterpart to Vinicius Junior and the Barca counterpart to Lamine Yamal who has done them the most damage, especially in the cups.
Hansi Flick's aggressive offense with balls over the top have unleashed Raphinha and turned the former Leeds United man into a superstar, with Raphinha even generating Ballon d'Or votes in the 2024/25 season when the Blaugrana first flipped La Liga from Real Madrid.
So life is not going to get any easier for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid next season, because not only will Raphinha be staying in Barcelona, but if he gets injured again, two players who are just as explosive in Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon can totally still shred them on the counter.
Of course, Real Madrid fans expected nothing less than for Barcelona to keep one of the top five players in their squad around. Barca are dying to win La Liga three times in a row, and their new wingers will not make it easy for Madrid.
Add us as a preferred source on Google