Raphinha Ruled Out Five Weeks With Hamstring Injury On Brazil Duty

Barcelona’s push for a domestic and European double has suffered a significant setback after winger Raphinha was ruled out for approximately five weeks with a right hamstring injury sustained while on international duty. The 29-year-old Brazilian limped off in the 42nd minute of Thursday’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and subsequent scans on Friday confirmed the muscle tear.

Brazil’s medical staff informed Barcelona that Raphinha will not be available again until May, forcing coach Hansi Flick to reshuffle his attack at the most critical stage of the campaign. The timing is particularly cruel: Barcelona visit Atlético Madrid in LaLiga next Saturday before meeting the same opponents in a Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Spotify Camp Nou on 8 April and then the return leg at the Metropolitano six days later. A potential semi-final against Arsenal or Sporting CP, pencilled in for late April and early May, also falls within the winger’s estimated recovery window.

This is the third time this season Raphinha has damaged his right hamstring. Two previous spells on the sidelines cost him 13 matches between September and November and another three fixtures in January and February. Despite those interruptions, he has still managed 19 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, underlining his importance to Flick’s high-octane system.

With Raphinha unavailable, Marcus Rashford is the leading candidate to start on the left flank, while Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Ferran Torres, João Cancelo and teenage prodigy Roony Bardghji provide further offensive options. Barcelona currently sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit of LaLiga and will hope to preserve that cushion while one of their most prolific attackers works his way back to full fitness.

Raphinha will immediately return to Barcelona to begin an intensive rehabilitation programme, leaving club and country to ponder what might have been had he stayed unscathed through the international break.