In the Catalan press: Ancelotti punishes Barcelona once again
Barcelona concerned about their player
Brazilian forward Raphinha faces a 22,000-kilometre round trip by plane to play two friendlies with Brazil against Japan and Singapore in November.
Carlo Ancelotti offered no reprieve. The coach called Raphinha up for both matches despite the question marks over their usefulness, according to Catalan newspaper "Sport", which reckons the Italian "has punished Barcelona once again".
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Brazil travel to the city of Singapore to face Japan on Saturday 14 November, before taking on hosts Singapore, 149th of 211 teams in the latest FIFA ranking, on Tuesday 17 November.
For Barcelona's number 11, that means another gruelling slog through the air, roughly 22,000 kilometres there and back.
These fresh commitments land at an awkward moment. Raphinha has yet to rediscover his best form after the muscle injury he picked up during the last international break with his country.
He went down on 29 September in Brisbane, forced off at half-time in the friendly against Australia. The injury sent him back to Barcelona early, while Brazil carried on preparing for a third friendly against India in Kolkata.
Worrying precedents
Hansi Flick, Barcelona and the Catalan fans have every reason to fret over this latest call-up, which falls within the final international breaks of 2026. The history is alarming. Raphinha has broken down with Brazil before, and it has cost the Blaugrana dearly.
Last March still stings. Raphinha got injured in Boston during a friendly of little importance to Brazil, against France.
Five weeks on the sidelines followed. He missed the knockout ties in which Barcelona crashed out of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League against Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid. The Brazilian then suffered a setback at the 2026 World Cup and sat out his country's elimination against Erling Haaland's Norway.
