Cautious optimism for Raphinha's return ahead of Atlético cup clash
Barcelona staff hope the Brazilian winger can rejoin training Tuesday and potentially travel to Madrid for Thursday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
Barcelona are showing cautious optimism regarding Raphinha’s potential return for Thursday’s massive Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano.
Recovery timeline
The Brazilian winger has been nursing an overload in the adductor of his right leg since February 2nd, forcing him to miss both the quarter-final victory against Albacete and last weekend’s La Liga clash with Mallorca. The club initially estimated a one-week recovery period, which appears to be on track.
The current plan is for Raphinha to rejoin training on Tuesday after the squad’s rest day on Monday. However, this timeline remains flexible and will ultimately depend on how the player feels. If his sensations are positive during training, the technical staff hope he can travel to Madrid and potentially feature in the squad.
Caution is key
Despite his importance to Hansi Flick’s system, Barcelona won’t risk rushing the Brazilian back prematurely. There’s genuine concern within the club about his injury record this season:
- He’s already missed 12 matches through various injuries
- Flick himself recently expressed worry about the player’s injury history
- The club wants to avoid any setbacks that could sideline him for longer periods
The final decision will be dictated by the player’s own assessment of his readiness, with the medical team taking a conservative approach.
Other injury concerns
Barça are already dealing with several significant absences for the cup tie. Gavi, Christensen and Pedri are confirmed to miss the Atlético clash through injury. Frenkie de Jong is expected to be available despite missing the Mallorca match with pubic discomfort, having been named on the bench for that fixture.
With presidential election matters dominating Barcelona headlines on Monday, the fitness of key players like Raphinha remains crucial as Flick prepares for what could be a season-defining cup tie against Diego Simeone’s men.