It was not long ago when Barcelona had almost taken it for granted that Raphinha would return to action and would be available for the season’s first El Clasico on October 26.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, it was confirmed yesterday that Raphinha will not be a part of the team as he is yet to fully recover from his injury.
The Brazilian international did not suffer any fresh injury, but he was simply not fit enough to get back on the pitch and may miss more matches for Barcelona.
Raphinha’s injury was rushed
A recent report from MARCA has offered some perspective on Raphinha’s injury and how it was handled, as well as the factor that led to him being ruled out for a longer period – with the club’s technical staff taking full responsibility for the setback.
At the beginning of the week, there was optimism that the winger would make Hansi Flick’s squad for the clash against Real Madrid.
Raphinha, Barcelona player
Raphinha will not be available against Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
But in recent training sessions, Raphinha began to feel discomfort again. It was not a relapse, but a clear sign that his return had been rushed.
The coaching staff reportedly allowed him to accelerate his recovery, as the player himself was eager to feature in El Clasico. However, that decision has now backfired.
After being reassessed by Barcelona’s medical team on Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that Raphinha was not ready and would be ruled out of the fixture.
The 28-year-old had initially sustained a hamstring injury in late September during the match against Oviedo, with an estimated recovery time of three weeks. Yet, a month later, he remains sidelined.
The Barcelona medical team has taken full responsibility for this mishap, with Raphinha now expected to come back after the November international break.