Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of the Brazilian national team, has sparked anger within Barcelona over his handling of Raphinha, after the Catalan club's captain suffered a muscle injury during the current international break.
Raphinha started for Brazil against Australia on Tuesday in the match that ended with a 4-2 victory for his national team, but he left the field at halftime due to pain in his right thigh.
Raphinha's injury came after he played the entire first friendly against Australia, featuring for 90 minutes in the match that ended in a 1-1 draw, before Ancelotti decided to start him again in the second fixture.
Raphinha managed to score Brazil's second goal from a penalty just before the end of the first half, but he was unable to complete the match due to muscular discomfort, being replaced by Endrick at the start of the second half.
The Spanish television program "El Chiringuito" reported dissatisfaction within Barcelona regarding Ancelotti's management of Raphinha's playing time, especially after he played the full first match and was then started in the following game, despite the significant effort he has put in with the club since the beginning of the season.
Barcelona's concerns have grown due to the nature of the injury, particularly as the player has previously suffered from muscle problems in the same area, leading the Catalan club to closely monitor his situation during the international break.
The anger also increased because Ancelotti did not provide a clear update on the player's condition after the match ended, while Barcelona was waiting for information regarding the severity of the injury.
However, the medical tests undergone by Raphinha brought more reassuring news, revealing only mild muscle edema in the back of the right thigh, without indications of a serious injury.
Consequently, the Brazilian national team decided to exempt Raphinha from the upcoming friendly against India and allow him to return to Barcelona to complete further examinations and treatment under the supervision of the club's medical staff.
Initial estimates suggest that the player may need around 10 days to recover, which keeps his chances of playing for Barcelona against Getafe after the international break alive, although the final decision will depend on the progression of his medical condition.
Raphinha is having an outstanding season with Barcelona so far, having become one of the most important attacking elements in the squad, making his prolonged absence a heavy blow to coach Hansi Flick's plans.
