Barcelona and Brazil Reach Agreement to Manage Raphinha’s Workload

FC Barcelona and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have reached a formal understanding regarding the management of Raphinha’s playing time during the current international break. The agreement is designed to protect the winger from the risk of a recurring or fresh injury while representing his country.

The Catalan club was reportedly unhappy with the decision by Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, to call up the player. Raphinha had not yet achieved a full recovery from a hamstring issue sustained during the previous international window in September and October. That injury, a muscle edema in his right leg, had already impacted his recent performances for Barcelona, including a notable appearance in the Clásico against Real Madrid where he scored despite the physical discomfort.

Protecting the Player

According to media reports, both the club and the federation are now coordinating their efforts. The primary goal is to ensure Raphinha returns to Spain in peak physical condition and to minimize the chance of him suffering a third consecutive injury during national team duty. The winger has already traveled to Singapore, where Brazil is scheduled to play two friendly matches.

Brazil will face Japan this coming Saturday and Singapore on November 17. Despite the concerns over his fitness, Raphinha is expected to be available for the opening match against Japan. The management of his minutes will be a priority for the coaching staff throughout these fixtures.

Ancelotti has also taken steps to manage the fitness of other squad members. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães and Gabriel Magalhães, along with Vanderson, have been given additional rest during this period. Like Raphinha, these three players are not currently at risk of missing the upcoming game against the Japanese national team.