Barcelona’s season has reached a defining stretch.
Hansi Flick’s side have built their campaign on attacking fluency and intensity.
With the margin for error now razor-thin, any disruption to the squad threatens to derail months of hard work.
A major setback has landed at the worst possible time for the Catalan giants.
Raphinha is set to spend around five weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Brazil.
The winger picked up the issue during a friendly against France in the United States, a decision that has reportedly left Barcelona furious given the lack of competitive stakes.
Internally, there is growing frustration that a player with a recent history of muscle problems was exposed to such a demanding trip and fixture schedule.
The situation has only deepened concerns within the club, who are now without one of their most influential attacking outlets during a crucial run-in.
Manager Hansi Flick is also believed to be angered by the circumstances, with the setback adding further pressure as the season approaches its climax.
Despite the sporting blow, there is a potential financial upside through FIFA’s Club Protection Programme.
If Raphinha remains unavailable for more than 28 days, Barcelona will be eligible to receive compensation for his absence, as reported by Sport.
However, that offers little comfort given the player’s importance to the system and overall team dynamics.
Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s standout performers this season.
Beyond the numbers, the Brazilian has also taken on increased leadership responsibility, often stepping up in big moments and setting the tone for the team.
Since joining Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022, he has grown into one of the squad’s most reliable attacking threats, earning the trust of multiple managers.
This latest injury, however, continues a worrying pattern of muscle-related issues that have interrupted his rhythm throughout the campaign.
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