Rafinha joins Inter Milan

CAIRO – 22 January 2018: Inter Milan announced on Monday that they have signed Rafinha Alcantara on a six-month loan from Barcelona with an option to purchase for $35 million. Rafinha hopes to regain his form with Inter in order to join the Brazil squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Rafinha, 24, joined Inter Milan after failing to earn a position in the Barcelona squad. He suffered a long-term injury since April and his form did not recover as his fitness did.

Rafinha is a Barcelona academy product, having joined the club when he was just 13, and he got promoted through the club rankings until he joined the first team in 2011.

Rafinha went on a one-year loan to Celta Vigo in 2013 to gain experience, and he returned to Barcelona in 2014 to participate in Barcelona’s amazing season when they won the Spanish League title, Spanish Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup.

Rafinha hopes to follow his father Mazinho’s steps in the Italian League, as he played two years in Italy between 1990 and 1992 for Lecce and Fiorentina.