Deco protects Barca against Premier League giants wanting Rapinha

Barca president Joan Laporta has asked Raphinha to be patient. Laporta has now started using the cash boosts the club have to be able to make signings and he has told the player that.

A huge number of teams are after Raphinha. 'Sport' reports that a source close to Raphinha has told the following: "If Deco were not Raphinha's agent, he would have already signed for Liverpool or Chelsea."

The ex-Barcelona player, now Raphinha's agent, is being of great help to the Catalans. He is reportedly the one who has told him to wait because few teams are so worth waiting for. 

Had it not been for him, 'Sport' says that Raphinha would now be at one of the Premier League's BIg Six (Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal). 

Deco waited for Xavi to give Raphinha the ok. Afterwards, he spoke to Leeds to tell him that his wish was to go to Barca. Deco also set everything up so that Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany could negotiate a price directly with the club. 

In recent months, Deco has reportedly had to stop the big Premier League clubs which are interested in Raphinha. Out of the Big Six, the only ones not to have approached Raphinha are Pep Guardiola's Man City. 

While Barca look to buy time, Deco is trying to protect his former club. He wants to see his player at the same club he was so happy at between 2004 and 2008.