Alarm Bells for Barcelona: Raphinha Injured in Brazil Friendly

Following Brazil's 2-1 friendly defeat to France, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Raphinha is dealing with a muscle issue, which led to his halftime substitution. "I think Raphinha played very well. He felt some muscle discomfort at the end of the first half, and we had to replace him, but he created many chances and showed excellent movement off the ball," the Italian coach stated.

A report from Mundo Deportivo indicates that Barcelona has already contacted the Brazilian winger to arrange the necessary examinations and assess the severity of his injury. The Catalans are set to face Atlético Madrid in both La Liga and the Champions League in the coming period, which appears to be the most crucial stretch of their season. Furthermore, with a four-point gap separating them from Real Madrid in the league, the last thing Hansi Flick needs is the absence of the pivotal Raphinha. It remains to be seen how long the Brazilian will be sidelined.