Barça and Inter nearing deal for Rafinha, Deulofeu to Napoli
AS understands that the Serie A club are close to agreeing a loan deal with an option to buy for the Barcelona midfielder.
Rafinha could be heading for the Camp Nou exit door after Barcelona and Inter Milan moved closer to reaching an agreement, AS understands.
Inter are keen to bring in the Brazil international on an initial loan deal with Barça inserting a compulsory purchase option into the operation with the Camp Nou board after 40 million euros but the Serie A side only willing to pay 20 million plus add-ons.
On Tuesday the two parties were in advanced negotiations with Rafinha apparently eager to make the move to Serie A. In principle, the midfielder will sign a four-year contract at Inter after his initial six-month loan arrangement.
Napoli in talks to sign Deulofeu
Another player who could be leaving Barcelona is Gerard Deulofeu, who has slipped further down the pecking order with the arrival of Philippe Coutinho. The winger is on Napoli’s short-list and could be close to a move after the Italian club’s primary target, Bologna’s Simone Verdi, turned down the opportunity to move to the San Paolo.
Barcelona want 20 million euros for the La Masia graduate but Napoli are reluctant meet the fee and could look into a loan deal with an option to buy. In any case, the two clubs have opened talks and Deulofeu would be open to the move after seeing his options limited at Camp Nou since his return from Everton last summer.
