Raphinha lands in Barcelona as club prepares medical tests on Friday – report

Raphinha lands in Barcelona as club prepares medical tests on Friday – report Barcelona will have a clearer picture of Raphinha’s condition on Friday, with the forward set to undergo medical tests after returning early from Brazil duty. According to SPORT , Raphinha has already arrived in Barcelona after travelling from Brisbane via Dubai.  The long journey means the club opted against rushing into examinations immediately, with fatigue also playing a role in the timing of his assessment. For now, the expectation at Barcelona remains positive, as the club believes the problem is unlikely to be more serious than the oedema detected by Brazil’s medical staff, but further tests are needed to establish the exact extent of the issue. Raphinha returns to Barcelona after Brazil setback Raphinha’s international break ended earlier than planned after he experienced discomfort in his right thigh during Brazil’s second friendly against Australia. Raphinha has landed in Barcelona. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images) The Barcelona forward had started both matches during the break. He completed the full 90 minutes in the opening game before being handed the captain’s armband for the second fixture. He also scored Brazil’s equaliser in that match but did not return for the second half after feeling discomfort in the same thigh. The issue subsequently ruled him out of Brazil’s meeting with India, prompting his return to Barcelona for further assessment. As per the outlet, both the player and the club have kept his arrival low-key, avoiding unnecessary attention at the airport following his lengthy journey back to Spain. Flick will decide whether Raphinha plays against Getafe For now, only the medical examination will determine whether Barcelona are dealing with a straightforward case of muscle oedema or something that requires a more cautious recovery period. Raphinha was released from national team duty with a msucle problem. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images) If the tests confirm the initial diagnosis, the decision will then move to Hansi Flick. Barcelona’s priority will be avoiding any unnecessary risk with the LaLiga campaign about to resume. Raphinha may therefore be given additional recovery time even if the examinations rule out a significant injury. That would leave Flick with a decision to make ahead of the return against Getafe: trust the Brazilian after a short recovery period or give him more time and avoid turning a minor problem into a longer absence. For now, Barcelona remain confident that Raphinha has avoided a serious setback, but Friday’s tests should provide the definitive answer.