Barça wants to understand with Raphinha what he does in the national team
According to Mundodeportivo.
Context
Raphinha, who started the season in great form at FC Barcelona under the guidance of new fitness coach Benjamin Kügel, now faces the challenge of dealing with recurring injuries. His ability to contribute to the Brazil squad at the 2026 World Cup is a concern for both the club and fans, given the impact that injuries can have on his career and the team's performance.
Why this matters
Analysis of Raphinha's injuries is crucial for FC Barcelona, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching. The player's ability to stay healthy could impact not only his performance at the club, but also his participation in the Brazilian national team. Identifying injury patterns will help prevent relapses and ensure Raphinha is fit to compete at the highest level in La Liga and the world tournament.
Main conclusions
- Barça wants to understand with Raphinha what he does in the national team.
- Catalan club will analyze training and warm-up patterns with Raphinha in the Brazilian team after three injuries to the same muscle in six months.
- El Barça will analyze with Raphinha what happens in the 'selection' and why he gets injured.
FC Barcelona will take advantage of the medical examinations that Raphinha will undergo this Friday morning, at the Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despí, to sit down with the player and understand in detail the origin of his recurring injuries while playing for the Brazilian national team. In the last six months, the winger has suffered three muscular problems in concentrations of the 'canarinha' - always in the same place, the posterior muscle of his right thigh - and the Catalan club wants to identify a pattern and act preventively.
According to Barça's medical and physical structure, there will be a specific conversation with the Brazilian international before or after the tests, in order to cross-reference the training, warm-up and recovery routines carried out with Brazil with those that the athlete follows on a daily basis in Barcelona. The priority is to understand whether there are relevant differences that could explain the repetition of complaints and, from there, fine-tune protocols to reduce the risk of a new relapse.
Raphinha opened the season in great form at Barcelona, now with Benjamin Kügel as the main squad's new physical trainer. However, his return to the national team brought muscular problems again, although, for now, without signs of severity. Carlo Ancelotti used the striker for 90 minutes last Friday, in Australia, after a long trip, having repeated his starting role in last Tuesday's match in Melbourne.
The chronology of the setbacks helps explain Azulgrana's concern. The first injury of 2026 appeared at the end of March, when Raphinha suffered a right hamstring injury in a friendly match in Boston, against France. This problem took him out of the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid, a tie in which Barça ended up falling.
Later, on June 20, he suffered again in the second game of the 2026 World Cup, against Haiti, again with pain in the back of his right thigh. He missed the following duels in the group stage, against Scotland and Japan, and, in the round of 16, against Norway, he was on the bench with a medical discharge, but without making his debut in that match. Now, he returns ‘touched’ from the tour in Australia, raising doubts about load management and the response of the affected muscle.
At Can Barça, the objective is clear: to stop the injury cycle and ensure that the winger can maintain consistent performance throughout the tight club and country calendar. To this end, in addition to clinical evaluation and imaging exams, dialogue between medical departments and the harmonization of working methods between Barcelona and the Brazilian team will be decisive. Identifying any differences in intensity, volume, stretching or warm-ups can provide clues for a robust prevention plan.
Raphinha is seen as an important piece in the Azulgrana attack and, with several competitive fronts ahead, Barça intends to minimize risks and return the Brazilian to the best level as soon as possible, without jeopardizing his availability for the team's and club's upcoming commitments.
What happens next
After the medical examinations, Raphinha and the Barcelona medical team are expected to discuss his training and warm-up routines. The objective is to align the methods used in the Brazilian team with those of the club, thus minimizing the risk of new injuries. The player's continuity with the national team and at Barcelona will be closely monitored, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Raphinha?
FC Barcelona will carry out medical examinations on Raphinha to understand the origin of his recurring injuries when playing for the Brazilian national team.
Who confirmed Barcelona's concerns about Raphinha?
FC Barcelona's medical and physical structure confirmed the concern about Raphinha's injuries.
Why are Barcelona now investigating Raphinha's injuries?
Barcelona are investigating Raphinha's injuries now to identify a pattern and act preventatively, as he has suffered three muscle problems in the last six months.
What changes do Barcelona intend to make regarding Raphinha?
Barcelona intends to fine-tune training protocols, here
Raphinha's warm-up and recovery to reduce the risk of new injuries.
What were Raphinha's previous injuries?
Raphinha suffered a right hamstring injury in March, which ruled him out of the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and has had muscle problems with the Brazilian national team in recent months.