Raphinha, the Brazilian winger for Barcelona, has suffered a muscle injury during a friendly match against France in Foxborough, Massachusetts. This unfortunate incident occurred when he was withdrawn at half-time due to discomfort in the back of his right thigh.
Following medical tests conducted by the Brazilian Football Federation, it has been confirmed that Raphinha is dealing with a right hamstring injury. As a result, he will miss Brazil’s next game against Croatia and is expected to be sidelined for approximately five weeks.
Barcelona has officially stated that Raphinha will return to the club to begin his recovery process. This injury could see him miss seven or eight matches for Barcelona, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid.
Raphinha has had a remarkable season so far, scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists in 31 appearances for Barcelona. However, this is not the first time he has faced a hamstring issue; he was previously out of action between September and November due to a similar injury.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti commented on the situation, noting, “Raphinha played very well, then he had a problem at the end of the first half and we had to change him, he was a little bit bothered by the muscle.” The Brazilian Football Federation also released a statement confirming that both Raphinha and teammate Wesley felt pain in the posterior region of their right thighs during the match against France.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact severity of Raphinha’s injury, but the implications for both his national team and Barcelona are significant. Observers will be closely monitoring his recovery as the club prepares for crucial matches ahead.