Deco, acting as the winger's agent, has admitted the former Whites winger was not short of options from other suitors across Europe, in an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo.
Former Barcelona star Deco helped Raphinha move to Camp Nou, too (Image credit: Getty Images)
"Actually, I didn’t push hard," began the ex-Barcelona midfielder. "You know, club presidents don’t usually tell the whole story. Raphinha was very serious and professional with Leeds.
"He had a clause that if they were relegated, his price would drop to €20m, and he was the best player when Leeds needed him most – he ran the most, worked the hardest, and I, as his agent, would be incapable of influencing any player for my own benefit.
"Leeds wanted to sell Raphinha. Then bids came in, even bigger than Barcelona’s. The owner of Chelsea [Todd Boehly] called me and insisted a lot, putting pressure on me – he really wanted to sign Raphinha.
"But I didn’t push hard for Raphinha to leave Leeds. It was all by mutual agreement."
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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly pushed hard for Raphinha (Image credit: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
With Barcelona facing financial issues, Deco admitted that seeing Raphinha fulfil his childhood dream of playing at the Nou Camp, much like he did, was something he was not prepared to stand in the way of.
"The only thing was that the owner of Leeds had promised, in a desperate moment for Leeds, to sell Raphinha to Barcelona for a certain amount," he added.
"After the club managed to avoid relegation, largely due to Raphinha’s contribution – among other players, of course – the president changed his stance because of Chelsea’s offer.
"I did waive my fee because I thought Raphinha deserved to be happy where he dreamed of playing. He wanted to go to Barcelona, and Barça wouldn’t match Chelsea’s figures. It was an effort I made so that the player could be here."
Deco also represented Fabinho (Image credit: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
Representing plenty of other stars in world football to date, Deco also told FourFourTwo of the delicate responsibilities he took on during his stint as high-profile representative.
"It was great," he admitted. "I had 10 years as an agent, building a company from scratch. I was able to help players like Fabinho and Raphinha.
"It’s something I’m proud of. But it’s in the past now, as I’ve been taking on a new challenge as Barcelona’s sporting director."
Bio: Matthew is a freelance journalist and has currently racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.
