The newspaper “Sport” has revealed the earliest possible date for Rafinha’s return to action with Barcelona after an absence of over a month and a half.
Rafinha was initially expected to return after the international break, but his return was postponed until El Clásico, before he suffered a setback that extended his absence by an additional month.
According to the latest report, Rafinha has begun his recovery, but Hansi Flick has no intention of risking him too soon, fearing a repeat of the pre-Clásico scenario.
As a matter of principle, Rafinha will also miss the upcoming Champions League match against Club Brugge, but if all goes well, he could travel with Barça to face Celta Vigo next week.
It’s also highly likely that Flick won’t include Rafinha in this match, or at best, he might only give him a few minutes. His current target date is after the next international break, specifically for the match against Athletic Bilbao on November 22nd.
This match is also expected to mark Barcelona’s return to the Camp Nou.
It’s worth noting that Rafinha has only played seven matches so far this season, six in La Liga and one in the Champions League, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
