Barcelona, Spain – Barcelona suffered a blow ahead of their matches against Getafe and Galatasaray, after German coach Hansi Flick confirmed that Brazilian Rafinha will miss both games due to a physical problem that requires caution, which may open the door to increasing the chances of Egyptian Hamza Abdel Karim playing with the first team.
Rafinha was injured while playing for Brazil in a friendly against Australia, and despite initial signs of recovery, Flick explained that medical tests revealed a problem that requires him to be kept away from upcoming matches to avoid aggravating it.
Barcelona are preparing to face Getafe on Saturday evening at 7:30 at Camp Nou, in the eighth round of the Spanish League, before traveling to Istanbul to meet Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Flick said during the press conference for the Getafe match: “Rafinha will not participate in tomorrow’s match, nor against Galatasaray. The tests showed that there is a problem, it is not a serious injury, but it requires careful handling”.
The German coach explained that the player’s injury record necessitates not rushing his return, adding: “The player suffered repeated injuries in the same area last season, and I think it was three injuries, so we have to take care of him and avoid any risks. Accordingly, he will not be available for tomorrow’s match, nor will he play against Galatasaray in Istanbul”.
Flick also touched on Rafinha’s frequent appearances with the Brazilian national team, stressing that representing the national team is a great ambition for players, and said: “Playing for the national team is, in my opinion, the greatest ambition for any player, and this is Rafinha’s mentality and spirit, as he always gives his all at 100%”.
But he expressed reservations about players having to travel long distances to play international matches, asking: “Is it necessary to travel to Australia to play matches, and have to travel a distance of up to 30,000 kilometers? This is unbelievable. Teams also need to choose opponents to play friendly matches”.
Rafinha’s absence gives Hamza Abdelkarim a boost in his chances of competing for a place in Barcelona’s first team, given the team’s need for attacking options in the coming period, coinciding with the absence of one of its most prominent forwards.
In contrast, Flick praised the development of striker Jesus, who is competing for the position, stressing that he has made important steps since joining the team and has adapted to the style of play that the coach seeks to implement.
Flick said of the player: “He has developed a lot since he arrived, and he has adapted to the style of play that I want to implement. His strength certainly lies in the penalty area and its surroundings, and he is performing well. He has trained excellently, and I am very happy with what I have seen from him, and he is ready to participate”.
Regarding the upcoming match, the Barcelona coach stressed the need to take Getafe seriously, pointing to the opponent’s strong defensive organization and ability to deliver high-level performances.
He said: “Getafe is a team that defends very well, and they achieved great success last season by qualifying for the Europa League. We know their style of play very well, and we realize that facing them is not easy, so our focus is currently on that match”.
Barcelona will be hoping to overcome the absence of Rafinha without being affected by his attacking prowess, and achieve a positive result against Getafe, before facing a European test against Galatasaray in Istanbul.