As Barcelona brace up for their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Albacete, concern has developed regarding the availability of Raphinha.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian winger did not train with the group in Barcelona’s last session before the trip, placing his involvement in Tuesday’s quarterfinal tie in serious doubt.
Barcelona concluded their final training session on Monday ahead of their visit to Albacete, with the aim on avoiding any surprises in the cup.
However, Raphinha’s absence from full squad training instantly aroused concerns inside the club.
The Reason Behind Raphinha’s Absence
The winger has been struggling with tightness in his hamstring, a condition that has developed since the previous meeting.
Raphinha and head coach Hansi Flick had decided that he would play for about 60 minutes during Barcelona’s most recent game.
Despite the thorough management of the plan to prevent any needless risk, things did not turn out as planned.
During the first half, the Brazilian did not feel totally comfortable, and after being checked at half-time, the decision was made for him to remain in the dressing room.
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As a result, Marcus Rashford was brought in his stead, going into the attacking line.
The club minimized the situation at the time indicating that the problem was little more than moderate pain and not a serious issue.
Initial signs pointed towards Raphinha being available for the Copa del Rey clash.
Raphinha’s inability to train with the rest of the team, however, implies that caution is now taking precedence, and the possibility that he will be left out of the game has greatly increased.
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