Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 in a bitter World Cup qualifying clash last Wednesday
Raphinha and Rodrigo De Paul then came up against each other in club action
LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
By WILL PICKWORTH
Published: 09:02 EDT, 3 April 2025 | Updated: 09:02 EDT, 3 April 2025
Raphinha and Rodrigo De Paul appeared to bury the hatchet after Barcelona's victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The Catalan giants won the clash, which was the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, 1-0, as they progressed to the final by virtue of a 5-4 aggregate win.
Ferran Torres' goal was the difference but in the tunnel at the Metropolitano stadium following the game, De Paul and Raphinha could be seen deep in conversation, just a week on from Argentina's fiery 4-1 victory against Brazil.
The pair had clashed during the chaotic encounter in Buenos Aires, but showed no signs of any ongoing hostility as they embraced.
Raphinha and De Paul then shared some words before they swapped shirts and parted ways following another warm hug.
It was an interesting sight given Raphinha had been the one to ramp up the tension ahead of the World Cup qualifying grudge match last Wednesday.
Rodrigo De Paul and Raphinha seemed to call a truce after Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid
Raphinha clashed with De Paul during a feisty clash between Argentina and Brazil last week
But there seemed to be no hard feelings as they embraced and swapped shirts in the tunnel
Having caught up with Brazil legend Romario ahead of the clash, the former forward asked: 'We are going to play against Argentina, our biggest rival. Now, thank God, without Messi, are we going to beat them?'
'We will beat them, no doubt. On and off the pitch, if we have to,' Raphinha warned.
'Are you going to try to score a goal against Argentina?' Romario asked.
'Yes, with everything,' Raphina replied. Then there was a chance for the duo to crank up the expletive-o-meter.
'F*** them?' Romario asked, before Raphinha agreed and said: 'F*** them.'
Unsurprisingly, Raphinha was the focal point for the ire of Argentina fans during the clash as they chanted 'sub off Raphinha, you son of a b***h' before Enzo Fernandez told him he 'talks too much' in one particularly angry exchange.
Fernandez also mocked defender Leo Ortiz by sticking his tongue out and making a taunting expression before calling the Flamengo man a 'fool'.
With Argentina 3-1 up and dominating, players of both sides clashed in a melee and Nicolas Otamendi could also be seen gesturing to Raphinha, telling him to 'talk less'.
Brazil were thrashed 4-1 on a miserable night that led to their boss Dorival Junior being sacked
But he got one over on De Paul this time as Barcelona knocked Atletico out of the Copa del Rey
And, after the final whistle when the on-pitch humiliation was complete, jubilant Argentina players rubbed salt in the wounds.
De Paul, Otamendi and Fernandez chanted that the Brazil national side are 'dead'.
They sang: 'A minute of silence... Shhh! (makes a gesture of silence) For the Brazil that is dead.'
However, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni had insisted he held nothing against Raphinha when speaking after the game.
'I forgive Raphinha, because I know he didn't do it on purpose,' Scaloni said. 'He's defending his country.'
Meanwhile, Brazil coach Dorival Junior was sacked following the Argentina defeat, which left the Selecao in fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifying table, 10 points adrift of their rivals.