The dreaded moment is approaching: the coach of the Brazilian National Team, Carlo Ancelotti, will announce today the squad list for the two friendly matches that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has scheduled for the next international break in Singapore. The news comes at a time of great expectation and concern for Barcelona, where winger Raphinha has recently returned from a muscle injury that prevented him from participating in the team's last two games.
Raphinha returned to Barcelona early after an international break during which he was injured. The forward suffered a small muscle edema in the back of his right thigh during a friendly against Australia, which prevented him from playing in the games against Getafe and Galatasaray. The CBF released him the next day with a medical report that justified his absence, and the player returned to action in the third game of the break, where he entered the last twenty minutes against Betis and then started against PSG and Real Madrid. Despite his recovery, the club considers it risky for the player to travel so far again to participate in matches that, according to management, are not essential for the team's preparation.
Barcelona, who have suffered four major injuries in the last month, are concerned about Raphinha's availability ahead of upcoming matches. The Barça captain has played only three games since his return and the club fears that a new injury could affect the team's performance in the Champions League. The Barcelona coach, who has emphasized the importance of internal competition, hopes that the Brazilian coach will make changes that encourage rivalry within the team.
The announcement of Ancelotti's list is expected at 7:00 p.m. in Spain. Fans and the media are attentive to the Italian coach's decisions, especially the inclusion of key players and the possible surprises that may arise. Raphinha's participation in friendlies is not mandatory, but his presence could be decisive for the balance of the Brazilian squad.
With the trip to Singapore just around the corner, Barcelona and the CBF are preparing for a match that, although friendly, could have important implications for the physical fitness and tactics of the players. The next step will be to see if Raphinha manages to stay injury-free and if Ancelotti decides to include him in the squad, which could influence the dynamics of the team before the next international challenges.