At A Glance
- FC Barcelona forward Raphinha is crushed and heartbroken after sustaining a muscle injury against France over the international break representing Brazil.
- Hansi Flick confirms speaking with the Brazilian and giving him some time-off in his homeland.
- Raphinha is currently working with a trusted physio under the recovery guidelines of the club.
As we already know, FC Barcelona winger Raphinha suffered a muscle injury during the international break playing for Brazil against France and is now going to be out for up to a month.
The goal being to return against Real Madrid in the Clasico on May 10th. However, the 29-year-old was also mentally crushed, given he had already suffered a similar injury earlier this season and had been returning to top form for his club.
FC Barcelona Star Raphinha has been cooling off in Brazil
Hansi Flick confirmed in Friday’s press conference that he’s allowed Raphinha to spend some days in Brazil, with the permission of Deco.
”Yes, I spoke with him. Losing Raphinha, it’s not his first injury this season. He is very sad and disappointed, that is why we have given him some time to cool off in Brazil,” Flick said, to preview a La Liga meeting with Atletico Madrid.
Raphinha is a player who has Hansi Flick’s full trust, not only this season but ever since the German coach arrived at the club in 2024.
The number 11 has always made it a point to repay the trust shown to him from everyone within Barça hierarchy. As reported on Thursday, he’s expected to return to Catalonia this weekend.
Out of FC Barcelona action for a month
Following his muscle injury, Raphinha continues to work in Brazil with some of his trusted physios, before he comes back to Barcelona and work on his recovery. The player is following the guidelines given by the club and has already begun working to return as soon as possible.
The club expects him to be out for another month, with the expectation being to recover on time for the Clasico against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou in May.
Raphinha will therefore miss both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid this month, in addition to the first leg of a potential semifinal showdown with Arsenal or Sporting CP.
League matches against Espanyol, Celta Vigo, Getafe and Osasuna will also be a no-go, for one of the first team’s main leaders both in the dressing room and on the pitch in attack.
