English Premier League
Raphinha returns to Barcelona after Brazil confirm muscle oedema injury
Raphinha has been ruled out of Brazil’s friendly against India after being sent back to Barcelona as a precaution following an injury sustained against Australia.
The Barcelona forward scored from the penalty spot in Brazil’s 4-2 victory over Australia but was withdrawn at half-time after developing swelling in his right thigh.
The Brazilian Football Association announced on Wednesday that Raphinha had been diagnosed with “muscle oedema” and would no longer be part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the match against India on 3 October.
Raphinha is expected to return to Barcelona as soon as possible to begin treatment with the club’s medical staff. He is also expected to undergo further tests when he arrives in Spain, with the examinations intended to assess the injury and support his recovery.
The initial medical checks have indicated that the problem is not serious, according to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo. However, Raphinha is experiencing discomfort, and Brazil decided it was sensible to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
His return to Barcelona will allow the club to monitor the injury directly during the international break. The expectation is that he will be available to Hansi Flick for Barcelona’s first match after the pause, provided his recovery progresses as planned.
Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s standout players this season, particularly since moving into a central striking role. He has scored 14 goals in eight appearances for the Catalan club.
Brazil will therefore face India without one of their leading attacking players, after Raphinha’s involvement in the international fixtures was limited to the first half of the win over Australia.