Rafinha: Inter sign Brazilian on loan from Barcelona
Rafinha has left Barcelona for Inter Milan on an initial loan, with the option to make the move permanent in a deal worth 38m euros.
Inter Milan have completed the signing of Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcántara on loan until the end of the season, the clubs have confirmed.
Purchase option included in Inter deal for Rafinha
The Brazil international's move to Serie A could become permanent, with Inter negotiating an option to purchase the player for 35 million euros, plus a further 3 million euros in variables.
It has been reported the fee will become mandatory if Inter qualify for the Champions League this season, in which case Rafinha will sign a three-year contract starting from July.
🎙 | "This is an important stage in my life" ⚫🔵
— Inter (@Inter_en) January 22, 2018
Read @Rafinha's first comments made exclusively to @Inter_TV! 👉 https://t.co/dbv0Uk4Pac #WelcomeRafinha #InterIsComing #ForzaInter
Injuries, signings block path to first team at Barcelona
The 24-year-old is believed to have been eager to join a club where he will play regular first-team football, having seen injuries restrict his involvement at the Camp Nou in recent years.
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He only made his first appearance of the season in the 1-0 Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg loss to Espanyol last week, having missed most of 2017 due to knee problems.
Barça's club-record signing of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, along with last year's arrival of winger Ousmane Dembélé, further limited chances in Ernesto Valverde's first team for Rafinha, who progressed through the club's youth system along with brother Thiago, now at Bayern Munich.
Good luck!https://t.co/q3TSRRZagA https://t.co/q3TSRRZagA
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 22, 2018