He hasn't said he's staying though, he's just commented that talks are progressing well and FURTHER talks are happening which I suspect will probably include ashley as he won't be involved throughout the whole process.
He wouldn't go as far as this if he wasn't tbh, he just wouldn't say anything at all. Rafa usually just keeps things quiet, if it was like how you say he would just wouldn't say anything.
It's pretty obvious this is much further along than it seems if Rafa is confident to say what he has said.
Sorry, but I completely disagree based on the fact he's been saying for weeks talks were happening so he wasn't exactly not going to comment on them.
He had no need to say "positive", could just say talks are ongoing.
He initiated it himself in the presser
Downie and the others were taken aback by how positive he was talking.