Despite appearing in all three of FC Barcelona’s first matches in the 2019-20 season, the Catalan club agreed to a deal with La Liga rivals Celta Vigo to send Rafinha on loan to the Galician club for next year.
Barcelona decided that their attack was just too crowded with the addition of Antoine Griezmann and the emergence of 16-year-old phenom Ansu Fati, so they decided to send Rafinha out to get playing time elsewhere.
Rafinha rejoins Celta, a club where he played as a youth player while growing up in the neighboring town of Nigrán. He spent the 2013-14 season on loan with Celta as well, scoring 4 goals and providing 7 assists.
The offensively-oriented midfielder will join a talented Celta attack that has plenty of talent, including former Barcelona teammates Denis Suárez, Iago Aspas, Santi Mina, and Brais Méndez.
The Galician club, which finished 17th in La Liga in a disappointing season last campaign, reportedly has an $11.5 million purchase option at the end of the loan if they wish to make Rafinha’s move permanent.
Rafinha will look to make his debut with the team after the international break when they host newly-promoted Granada at Balaídos Stadium on Sunday, September 15th.
