FC Barcelona will sit down with its top scorer in 2026/2027 Raphinha and try to get to the bottom of what the Brazilian does on international duty and why he gets injured with the Selecao.
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FC Barcelona will sit down with its top scorer in 2026/2027 Raphinha, and try to get to the bottom of what the Brazilian does on international duty and why he gets injured so frequently with the Selecao.
The first team’s captain couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the new club campaign.
With Barca failing to land a big name striker such as Julian Alvarez, after the departures of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain and Robert Lewandowski to the Chicago Fire, the Catalans had to settle for Gabriel Jesus as back up to his converted compatriot.
Adapting to his new role with ease, Raphinha’s is arguably the best frontman in the world with 14 goals and three assists in all competitions.
Yet Culers and the club collectively winced when Rapha went off on international duty with Brazil, for two friendlies against Australia and another meeting with India.
They remember all too well what happened in March, when the 29-year-old came off at half time during an eventual friendly loss to France in Boston.
Upon his return to Catalunya, Raphinha was diagnosed with another hamstring knock which meant he missed both legs of an aggregate Champions League quarterfinal loss to Atletico Madrid.
Once more Down Under then, after putting up 96 minutes in the first clash with the Aussies, a 2-2 draw, Raphinha left the second game Brazil won 4-2 in Brisbane after 45 minutes.
Those of a Blaugrana persuasion immediately feared the worst, though Raphinha later put minds at rest by insisting he was alright in the bowels of the Suncorp Stadium.
In any case the player is now back in Barcelona, and will undergo tests on Friday while also holding a meeting with his employers.
FC Barcelona wants to get to the bottom of Raphinha’s issues
When Raphinha reports to the Joan Gamper CT for tests, FC Barcelona’s medical directors want to talk to the skipper and find out why he has been injured three times in national team camps over the past six months, according to Mundo Deportivo.
All three knocks have been in the thigh of his right leg, and Barca wants to know whether there is anything that happens in Brazil training with Carlo Ancelotti, or in warm ups, that could have caused these setbacks.
This might eventually lead to a clash between club and country, though it’s better not to rush to conclusions or already start pointing the finger.
With Raphinha’s physical state in mind, Hansi Flick now has to decide whether his number 11 sits out October 10’s hosting of Getafe and if so, who replaces him.
FC Barcelona could take a punt on Gabriel Jesus, or convert another winger such as Anthony Gordon – who has scored twice in this international window for England – or Karim Adeyemi for ‘9’ duties. Five points clear at the top of La Liga, Flick’s men want to keep their foot on the gas ahead of an October 25 Clasico.
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