Inter Milan agree loan deal for Barcelona midfielder Rafinha with option to buy for €35m

Aditya Devavrat 23:49 19/01/2018
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  • Rafinha was loaned out by Barcelona to Inter Milan.

    Inter Milan and Barcelona have agreed to a deal for the transfer of Barca midfielder Rafinha, according to reports coming out of Italy.

    Sky Sport Italia and Mundo Deportivo say the Brazilian will join Inter on loan until the end of the season, at which point there will be an option to make the transfer permanent.

    That option is reportedly for a fee of €35million, with a further €3million in bonuses. The two sides are now finalising the details of the transfer.

    Rafinha has been among Inter’s top targets this summer as they look to bolster their midfield with the race for Champions League spots in the Serie A getting tighter. Inter, who were top of the table just over a month ago, are now in third, nine points behind leaders Napoli and eight behind second-placed Juventus, while the chasing pack is getting closer. Lazio and Roma are two and three points behind respectively, and each have a game in hand.

    The 24-year-old Rafinha has found first-team opportunities limited at Barcelona, as he has missed time to injury and was always facing an uphill battle for playing time in any case, considering the club’s options in midfield.

    Rafinha is the younger brother of Bayern Munich and Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The brothers rose through the ranks at Barcelona, but now both have had to leave the club of their youth in search of first-team football.

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