Barcelona face Raphinha injury concern after Brazil withdrawal

The Barcelona forward was substituted at half-time during Brazil's 4-2 victory over Australia on Tuesday after experiencing discomfort in his right thigh. Raphinha had started the match and converted a penalty before being replaced by Endrick.

Medical examinations have ruled out a major muscle rupture, but they did reveal a small amount of muscle oedema, along with swelling and fluid in the affected area. As a result, Brazil have decided not to take any further risks with the forward.

Raphinha has subsequently been released from the squad and will miss Brazil's upcoming friendly against India. He is now expected to return to Barcelona, where the club's medical staff will monitor his condition and oversee his recovery.

While the absence of a serious tear will be welcomed, the situation remains a concern for Barcelona given Raphinha's injury history. The winger endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines last season after suffering several problems with his right thigh, making the latest setback particularly significant.

Barcelona are therefore unlikely to view the latest medical findings as the end of the issue. Instead, the priority will be determining how quickly Raphinha can recover and whether the current problem could develop into something more serious if he returns too soon.

The timing is also unfortunate for Raphinha, who has been one of Barcelona's most productive attacking players this season. He has scored 12 domestic league goals and added a brace in the Champions League against Feyenoord, establishing himself as a key figure in Hansi Flick's attack.

Brazil's decision to send him back to Spain at least means Barcelona can manage his rehabilitation directly rather than allowing him to remain with the national team for another fixture. The club is already in contact with the CBF and will conduct further assessments once the player returns.

Barcelona are also dealing with another international-break injury, with Eric Garcia having withdrawn from Spain's squad after experiencing knee discomfort.

The Catalan side do not return to competitive action until their La Liga meeting with Getafe on October 10, giving Raphinha some time to recover. However, his availability for that fixture will depend on how the thigh responds over the coming days.

For now, Barcelona have avoided the worst-case scenario, but Raphinha's withdrawal represents another unwanted injury concern for Flick rather than a straightforward positive development.

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