Brazilian full-back Rafinha says this is his last season at Bayern Munich as he enters the final six months of his contract.
There will be many changes in the Bayern Munich squad over the course of the next year. The process of phasing out long-standing veterans and bringing in younger talent has already begun. Arjen Robben has already announced his departure, while Franck Ribery is also hinting at an exit from the club in the summer. The Frenchman is still eager to sign a new deal, but the club hierarchy is not keen on handing him one.
Rafinha is another one of the few players who has no future at the club. The Brazilian full-back is also entering in the final six months of his current deal. Speaking to SporTV (via Sport Bild), Rafinha confirmed that he will leave the club in the summer. He has not revealed his next destination, but a move back to Brazil is the most likely option for him.
"“My cycle at Bayern is coming to an end. There are many things that can happen in the next six months, but I think it’s my last year.“There are no talks with other clubs yet out of respect for Bayern. But I think going back to Brazil is a possibility.”"
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Bayern Munich signed Rafinha from Genoa in 2011. He was brought in to provide cover for Philipp Lahm and David Alaba. He has made close to 254 appearances for Die Roten in his seven seasons at Munich, in which he has won numerous titles — including a treble in 2013.
Rafinha has been a fantastic player for Bayern since joining the club. He has always been second fiddle in his position, but that hasn’t stopped him from giving his best whenever he is called upon.
The Brazilian full-back has always been a popular figure in the dressing room. He eventually became a leader in the squad after spending so many years at the club.
Niko Kovac has been using Rafinha heavily in the past few weeks, as he has moved Joshua Kimmich into midfield. The Croatian is likely to use him there in the big games as it provides more balance to the team and shields the porous defense. Rafinha will play a key role for Bayern in the second half of the season, but Bayern are doing the right thing by not extending his contract. He has been a fantastic team player for the club, but the time has come for the Bavarians to add more youth to their full-back depth.
Bayern Munich will have only two full-backs in their first team squad after Rafinha’s departure. They will require a couple of additions in this department if Kovac sees Kimmich’s long-term future in the midfield. Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard have been heavily linked with a move to Bayern. The interest in both French defenders is understandable, as they can both play as a center-back or a full-back.