As Barcelona gear up for their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Albacete, uncertainty has emerged around the availability of Raphinha.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian winger did not train with the group in Barcelona’s final session before the trip, placing his involvement in Tuesday’s knockout tie in serious doubt.
Barcelona completed their last training session on Monday ahead of their journey to Albacete, with the focus on avoiding any surprises in the cup.
However, Raphinha’s absence from full team training immediately raised concerns inside the club.
What happened to Raphinha?
The winger has been dealing with discomfort in his hamstring, an issue that has lingered since the previous match.
The situation dates back to Barcelona’s last outing, when Raphinha had agreed with head coach Hansi Flick to play for around 60 minutes.
The plan was carefully managed to avoid any unnecessary risk, but things did not go as expected.
Raphinha, Barcelona superstar
Raphinha did not train ahead of Albacete clash. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
During the first half, the Brazilian did not feel fully comfortable, and after being assessed at half-time, the decision was made for him to remain in the dressing room.
As a result, Marcus Rashford was introduced in his place, stepping into the attacking line.
What now?
At the time, the club downplayed the issue, suggesting that the problem was no more than minor discomfort and not a serious injury.
Initial indications pointed towards Raphinha being available for the Copa del Rey clash.
However, the latest development has shifted the tone, as Raphinha’s failure to train with the rest of the squad suggests that caution is now taking priority, and the likelihood of him being left out of the match has increased significantly.
Should Raphinha miss out, the solution appears clear. Rashford is expected to step in as his replacement in the attacking trident.
The Englishman’s profile fits well with Barcelona’s attacking approach, making him the natural alternative if the Brazilian is ruled out.