Raphinha Leaves the World Cup Injured — and His Return to Barcelona Will Have to Wait
Raphinha picked up a muscle injury at the World Cup and has been granted an extra week of rest. Spanish outlet As reports he is due back at Barcelona on July 27.
The World Cup ended too soon for Raphinha — and his body sent the bill.
The Brazil forward suffered a hamstring muscle injury during the national team's World Cup campaign and has been granted an extra week of rest before rejoining Barcelona. According to Spanish outlet As, cited by ge, his return to the club is scheduled for July 27.
The timing is tight: Barcelona have an eight-day pre-season tour of England lined up, with a friendly against Birmingham on July 31. Raphinha is expected to be part of that preparation window.
The problem, however, goes beyond a difficult World Cup. The hamstring injury capped a season already marked by other absences at crucial moments for Barcelona — a rough cycle the forward will be desperate to put behind him the moment he steps back on the pitch.
Off the field, Raphinha's name has resurfaced in conversations about Saudi Arabia. A lucrative offer is said to have returned to the table, but according to As, the player and his representatives remain firmly committed to staying at the club.
Brazil, meanwhile, are already out of the World Cup. Golmetria's model gives the Seleção no remaining chance of a sixth title — the team's campaign ended before the quarter-finals. England, Barcelona's pre-season opponents, still show a 7% chance of lifting the trophy according to the model.
Raphinha will be back. The question is: at what level?