Barcelona Await Raphinha Scan Results After Brazil Injury Concern
Barcelona are awaiting further assessment on Raphinha after the Brazil forward was substituted at half-time of the 4-2 friendly win over Australia, creating concern over the right-thigh problems that disrupted his previous season.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that scans detected a small muscle oedema. Raphinha will return to Catalonia as a precaution, with Brazil and the player agreeing that he should not risk aggravating the issue. Endrick replaced him at the interval after the winger had scored from the penalty spot, bringing an international scoring drought of more than 500 days to an end.
The incident has caused frustration at Barcelona after Carlo Ancelotti used Raphinha for the full duration of Brazil’s first match against Australia and then selected him again for the second fixture. There was further irritation at the lack of an immediate public update on the player’s condition after the match, when Ancelotti instead concentrated his media comments on Vinicius Junior.
Fitness concern before Getafe
Barcelona’s caution is understandable given Raphinha’s recent record. He spent more than 150 days sidelined last season following four injuries to the same right thigh, one of which forced him out of Brazil’s World Cup meeting with Haiti.
The 28-year-old has been central to Barcelona’s attacking output this season, scoring 12 goals in La Liga and adding two against Feyenoord in the Champions League. The club now face an anxious wait over whether he will be available for the league visit of Getafe on October 10.
Brazil will complete one more training session in Brisbane before travelling to Kolkata for Saturday’s friendly against India. Ancelotti will not summon another player despite losing his acting captain from the squad and already dealing with injuries to Joao Pedro and Wesley.
