Barcelona captain set to return to group training today, could feature vs Real Betis

Barcelona captain set to return to group training today, could feature vs Real Betis FC Barcelona have received encouraging news from the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, with Raphinha expected to return to group training on Thursday and take an important step towards completing his recovery.  Indeed, according to SPORT , the Brazilian winger is scheduled to join his teammates on the training pitch for a session that will assess how he responds physically after several days of individual work.  The plan is for Raphinha to complete at least part of the session with the group. He has spent recent days training individually on the pitch, gradually increasing his workload. Barcelona’s trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray also gave him an opportunity to continue his rehabilitation and improve his physical condition.  Raphinha’s objective is clear: he wants to be available for Saturday’s match against Real Betis. However, neither the player nor Barcelona’s medical staff intend to take unnecessary risks. His involvement will depend on how he feels during Thursday’s session and how his recovery progresses over the following hours.  Determined to return. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Raphinha determined to return as soon as possible Raphinha is one of the most committed players in the Barcelona squad, and his absence has come during a particularly demanding period of the season. The Brazilian is eager to return and help his team-mates, but he understands that completing his recovery and avoiding a relapse must remain the priorities.  Barça missed some of his key qualities during their match against Galatasaray in Istanbul, particularly his intensity and ability to press opposition defenders. Nevertheless, Hansi Flick’s side produced an outstanding performance, especially in a superb second half in which they eventually overwhelmed the Turkish team.  With the fixture schedule becoming increasingly demanding and several important matches approaching, Raphinha’s return would provide a significant boost for the coaching staff.  If his recovery continues positively and Flick considers him ready, the winger could be included in the squad for the trip to Seville. His involvement is not yet guaranteed, but Thursday’s training session could prove decisive in determining how soon he returns to competitive action.  Frenkie de Jong also making progress Making progress. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Frenkie de Jong is also expected to take part in Thursday’s training session. The Dutch midfielder returned to group work last week and, as Flick explained at his press conference, could receive medical clearance this week and be included in the squad for the match against Betis.  If De Jong continues to feel comfortable, he could even feature for some minutes on Saturday. However, Flick has already made it clear that he will take a cautious approach to the midfielder’s return.  Barça will therefore assess both players during training before making a final decision on their availability for the trip to Seville.