You needn’t be the biggest cynic in the world to imagine vultures across various European boardrooms keeping tabs on how Leeds United were getting on in their final-day clash at Brentford.
Leeds were teetering over the edge. Had they dropped, unscrupulous sporting directors would have encircled the carcass. In particular, their beady eyes will have been focused on one tasty morsel: the club’s star asset Raphinha.
But you don’t need to be the biggest cynic in the world to wonder whether Deco – the former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder that now serves as Raphinha’s agent – might have had conflicted feelings about how his client was getting on at the Brentford Community Stadium.
After all, had Leeds suffered defeat, it would’ve been far easier to get a deal done.
The Brazilian forward has a much-publicised relegation clause, making the prospect of a move to financially hamstrung Barcelona – where Deco has a close relationship with club president Joan Laporta, the man who took him to the Camp Nou back in 2004 – much more viable.
Whatever the conclusion to Leeds’ season, Brentford was always going to be Raphinha’s farewell. But the manner of the ending will come to define the superstar’s legacy at Elland Road and how he’ll be remembered by the fans.
In recent football history, there are no shortage of mercenaries who have looked after their own interests at the expense of their clubs. This is the charge Newcastle supporters, and Alan Shearer, levelled at Michael Owen following their relegation in 2009.
Indeed, Leeds fans are all too familiar with bitter break-ups; Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kewell, Alan Smith. Even Mark Viduka suffered a sad goodbye, needlessly sent off against Bolton as Leeds’ relegation was sealed in 2004.
That Champions League team. The promotion-winning side of 2010. Older Leeds fans can be forgiven for being jaded husks that know deep down nothing good ever lasts. Can you ever totally enjoy having a world-beater like…
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