Overview
- Raphinha picked up right‑thigh discomfort while with Brazil and returned to Barcelona for scans that showed a small muscular oedema rather than a major tear.
- The club plans a gradual reintegration into group training and will increase his workload step by step rather than rush him straight into matches.
- Barcelona expect him to miss the nearer La Liga trip to Real Betis and are eyeing the Champions League trip to Paris Saint‑Germain for his comeback, according to president Joan Laporta and club sources.
- The team has remained effective without him, with Gabriel Jesus filling the centre‑forward role and Barcelona winning 4‑1 in the Champions League while using other attacking options.
- The cautious approach responds to a congested fixture list and a pattern of right‑side muscle problems linked to Brazil duty, which has prompted the club to probe national team preparation and workload to reduce future risk.