Revealed: Rafinha Alcantara will renew his Barcelona contract for five seasons

The Rafinha Alcantara case is one of the most urgent issues that Robert Fernandez has on the table. The Brazilian's contract ends next on June 30, 2016, at the end of this season.

He is a footballer who offfers a lot. The technical team rate him, Luis Enrique especially, his biggest supporter, and the club understands he's a player who should be a big part of the team's future.

If everyone agrees, there is no reason for Rafinha to leave, and most would bet he would stay. In fact, no one is wasting time, and we can say that both parties have all but agreed to keep Rafinha in the shirt for the coming seasons. One of those that has had a hand in that everything went well and can already speak of the forthcoming agreement is Robert Fernandez.

The sporting director has already had several meetings with the player's father, Mazinho, who he knows well from his time at Valencia, where they were team-mates: "I have a fantastic relationship with him," said the executive himself.

So much so that between them, they were able to reach a deal that will link the Brazilian midfielder with the club until 30 June 2021. "It is practically sealed, it will be four or five years," claimed Robert, during his visit to SPORT, who are able to reveal the contract shall be five years from the end of his current deal.

The idea, the objective, is to finish the deal and then announce it shortly. The period marked by Robert definitively, to close the deal, is this month of September. That is, if nothing strange happens, something which is not forseen on either side.

Luis Enrique has said of Rafinha: "He's a good player, and we are convinced that he will have a very big progression, he's got a long journey and is one of our 'bets'."

Since Rafinha was loaned to Celta, he has grown and grown. The Brazilian was, in fact, one of the sensations in La Liga in in the blue of Celta Vigo, earning the respect of Balaídos and, incidentally, the right to return to Camp Nou in the hands of Luis Enrique. 

He is the player most used by the Asturian coach out of those who are not regular starters. His versatility, allowing him to play in attack or midfield, is one of the virtues most valued by the coaching staff, who are convinced about him.