Saudi Arabia is knocking on Barcelona's door again, and again it wants the same man - Raphinha. Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are jointly preparing a package worth around 80 million euros (69 million pounds), backed by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund, with an offer to quadruple the Brazilian's wages. Numbers that sound like fantasy in European football, and in Riyadh are just a routine Monday operation.

Still, Barcelona stays calm for now. The Catalans lean on the contract that ties Raphinha until 2028, extended last year, and on the fact that the player himself already said "no" to a similar call once, after consulting coach Hansi Flick. The question is how many times a club can turn down money that exceeds its entire seasonal earnings before it starts thinking differently.

The numbers on the pitch favour the player. In the 2024/25 season Raphinha racked up 34 goals and 23 assists - output few wingers in the world come close to. This season injuries tripped him up, but even so he gathered 21 goals and 7 assists in 33 games. This isn't a player in decline; it's a player the Saudis want precisely because he's at the top.

It's interesting that Barcelona at the same time brought in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle for 69.3 million pounds on a five-year contract. At first glance it looks like a replacement, but the club presents the move as an addition, not preparation for a sale. Perhaps that's a message to Riyadh: we have depth, we're not forced to sell.

The Balkan fan watches this with a familiar feeling. Every summer the same story - a European club builds a team, and behind it hangs the shadow of oil billions that can tear it apart in a week. How long can the sporting argument hold out against a cheque with that many zeros?