Raphinha ruled out of Brazil’s India friendly with thigh injury
Raphinha has been released from the Brazil squad after scans confirmed a small muscle oedema in his right thigh, ruling him out of Saturday’s friendly against India.
What we know
- The Barcelona forward came off at the interval of Brazil’s 4-2 win over Australia on Tuesday, with Endrick taking his place.
- Raphinha had scored from the penalty spot before his withdrawal, ending an international scoring wait of more than 500 days.
- Brazil will not bring in another player. Carlo Ancelotti loses his stand-in captain after earlier injury setbacks for Joao Pedro and Wesley.
- The decision for Raphinha to return to Catalonia was agreed as a precaution, with Brazil and Barcelona seeking to avoid a more serious problem.
- Barcelona have added reason for caution: Raphinha missed more than 150 days last season after four separate injuries to the same right thigh, including an exit against Haiti at the World Cup.
- The winger has started strongly for his club, scoring 12 league goals and netting twice against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Barcelona await fitness update before Getafe
Brazil will train once more in Brisbane before travelling to Kolkata for the India match. Raphinha will instead be assessed by Barcelona’s medical staff as the club monitor his availability for the La Liga trip to Getafe on October 10.
