Barcelona have received a major relief regarding Raphinha’s fitness after comprehensive medical examinations confirmed that the Brazilian winger has avoided a structural muscle tear in his right leg following his early return from international duty.
Detailed tests, including an MRI scan, confirmed the initial diagnosis of a mild muscular edema in his right hamstring. The issue was first felt during Brazil’s 4–2 friendly win over Australia, a match in which Raphinha scored from the penalty spot before being substituted at half-time as a precautionary measure and subsequently rested for the upcoming fixture against India.
The 29-year-old forward returned to Catalonia after a long journey exceeding 20 hours, arriving at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Friday morning for evaluation before leaving roughly 90 minutes later reassured about his physical status. Barcelona will not issue a formal medical update due to the absence of a structural injury.
Recovery from this type of mild swelling typically takes between seven to ten days. Raphinha is scheduled to begin an individualized training program when the rest of Hansi Flick’s squad resumes collective training on Monday.
Based on the favorable test results, Raphinha will be available for selection when Barcelona host Getafe at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, October 10 at 18:30 CEST in their first fixture following the international break.
Hansi Flick will ultimately decide whether to start the Brazilian or manage his workload from the bench, particularly with a demanding schedule awaiting Barcelona across all competitions following the international window.
