Raphinha remains central to Brazil’s plans despite ‘traitor’ claims

Brazil have no reason to question Raphinha’s commitment after a short video clip led to the Barcelona forward being branded a “traitor to his country”, according to Globo journalist Douglas Siconelli.

A fragment of an interview with Barcelona’s official channel circulated on social media in recent days. In it, Raphinha asked Carlo Ancelotti to manage players’ minutes carefully with Brazil to reduce the risk of fatigue. His comments were interpreted by some as suggesting he did not want to play for the national team.

However, the full interview showed Raphinha later explaining that injuries would ultimately damage Brazil themselves. He also said he wanted to play “every minute possible” permitted by his physical condition.

The forward’s standing within Ancelotti’s squad was underlined when he wore the captain’s armband in Saturday’s friendly against Japan, with Marquinhos absent through injury. Raphinha had also brought forward a planned operation so he would not miss the national team camp, despite Barcelona preferring the procedure to take place during the international break.

“In an interview on Friday, the player tried to clarify the situation,” Siconelli wrote. “He spoke about his conversations with Carlo Ancelotti and said he would like to play ‘every minute possible’ allowed by his physical condition.”

Club form and international questions

Siconelli acknowledged that Raphinha’s international record remains open to debate because he has not yet consistently matched the level he has reached with Barcelona.

“The experience of Raphinha with Brazil cannot be considered free of question marks, as he has not yet produced for the national team the same level he shows at club level,” he said. “That gap between his performances in a Barcelona shirt and what he offers for the Selecao remains a technical point for discussion.”

But he argued it would be unfair to hold Raphinha responsible for Brazil’s failure at the last World Cup. The player suffered an injury in the second group-stage match and missed the rest of the tournament.

“Brazil cannot afford to question one of the best players in the world at present,” Siconelli added. “Ancelotti has more urgent issues to resolve before the upcoming commitments.”

Raphinha’s form and his increasingly central role for Barcelona could make him one of the most important parts of the Italian manager’s plans, rather than a source of controversy over workload management.

Ancelotti appears to recognise that value and is working to use Raphinha in a more central position, reflecting the role he has taken on under Hansi Flick at Barcelona. The change has helped unlock his attacking ability at the start of the season, with Raphinha scoring 19 goals in 14 matches in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Siconelli said it would nevertheless be difficult for the player to reproduce that form for Brazil without adjustment. Barcelona build through possession, retain the ball and construct attacks in an organised way, while Brazil tend to play at a faster tempo and can rush some movements.

Adapting Raphinha’s club role to the national team will therefore require a tactical solution. “Turning him into an additional problem because of a statement taken out of context would not be useful,” Siconelli concluded. “Brazil should make use of his abilities and adapt their style to them, while taking his physical condition into account, rather than questioning his desire or diminishing his value.”