La Liga Daily Report - 2026-11-05: Barcelona extend Raphinha’s contract until 2030

Barcelona announced on Thursday that Raphinha had signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until June 30, 2030. The Brazilian forward’s previous agreement had been due to expire in 2028, but the new deal secures his future after a productive spell since joining from Leeds United in 2022. Raphinha has scored 94 goals and supplied 54 assists in his first 190 Barcelona appearances. He scored 18 goals in 36 appearances during the 2024-25 La Liga season and added 13 goals in 22 appearances in 2025-26, underlining his importance to the club’s attack.

Raphinha said the renewal brought “great pride” to him and his family, while adding that he would like to finish his career at Barcelona if he could maintain a high level. His role has evolved since arriving as a right winger, with the 29-year-old also operating from the left and through the centre. That versatility has helped make him a significant figure in Barcelona’s team-building plans. The longer agreement gives the Catalan club continuity in a key attacking position and removes uncertainty over a player who has become one of their most productive forwards.

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LaLiga confirmed on Thursday that fixtures in Spain’s first and second divisions would go ahead, apart from matches involving Tenerife, FC Andorra and the Castellón-Eibar fixture. The decision followed the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel after his collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during Monday’s LaLiga Hypermotion match. De Miguel died on Tuesday, and his funeral took place in Navahermosa on Thursday, attended by Tenerife players and figures including RFEF president Rafael Louzán, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.

The decision preserved the wider league schedule while recognising the direct impact on the clubs involved in the tragedy. Tenerife and Andorra were the teams most closely affected, while the Castellón-Eibar postponement was also confirmed in the league’s arrangements. De Miguel’s death continued to prompt tributes across Spanish football, with his family describing the affection shown for the striker at the funeral. For LaLiga, the response balanced the practical demands of maintaining both divisions with the need to give the affected clubs time to mourn and reorganise their fixtures.

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Real Madrid beat AEK Athens 3-2 on Wednesday as Federico Valverde scored in stoppage time to preserve their perfect Champions League record. AEK took the lead through Koita in the 12th minute, but Jude Bellingham equalised with a backheel before the hosts went ahead again through Stavros Pilios. Kylian Mbappé restored parity with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, and Valverde settled the contest with a long-range strike in the second minute of added time. The result gave Madrid 12 points from four league-phase matches and strengthened their position in the qualification race.

José Mourinho had rested Aurélien Tchouaméni and Arda Güler for the trip, with Saturday’s La Liga visit to Valencia in mind. Madrid therefore secured another European win while managing the involvement of two players regarded as important to their domestic campaign. Bellingham’s equaliser, Mbappé’s response and Valverde’s late intervention showed the depth of attacking solutions available to the side, although the two goals conceded meant the victory again required a comeback. Attention now turns to Mestalla, where Madrid will play without the suspended Vinícius Júnior.

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Vinícius Júnior was serving a four-match La Liga suspension on Thursday after being sent off for pulling an opponent’s hair and protesting to the referee. The Real Madrid forward had scored once for the club this season, in the league victory over Real Sociedad in August, before the disciplinary punishment ruled him out of domestic action. His absence was noted ahead of Madrid’s trip to Valencia, which followed the Champions League win at AEK Athens. The suspension added a significant selection issue for José Mourinho as Madrid moved between European and domestic commitments.

The ban came during a difficult start to the campaign for Vinícius, whose form had attracted attention while he was unavailable. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, who planned to meet the Brazilian in Madrid, advised him to ignore external noise and remain focused. Vinícius’s return will be important to Madrid’s attacking options, particularly alongside Mbappé, but the immediate priority is navigating the Valencia fixture without him. The suspension also means Madrid must find alternatives on the left side while their forward serves the remaining matches of his punishment.

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Atlético Madrid are reportedly considering a January move for Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, according to Fichajes, with a loan-to-buy arrangement under discussion. The proposed deal would involve an initial loan followed by an option to sign the 30-year-old Spain international permanently for €30 million. There was no indication that a formal offer had been submitted. Merino joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad for €37.5 million in August 2024 and remains under contract with the Premier League club until June 2028.

The report said Merino had found regular football difficult to secure at Arsenal this season, making Atlético’s proposed structure a relatively low-risk route to bring an experienced midfielder back to La Liga. His versatility is understood to be part of the attraction for Diego Simeone’s side, although the discussions remain at an exploratory stage. Any move would depend on Arsenal’s willingness to sanction a loan and Atlético’s decision on whether Merino’s performances justify the permanent fee. The story therefore points to a possible January target rather than an agreed transfer.

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