FC Barcelona striker Raphinha has been called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti to represent the Brazilian team in two friendlies to be held in Singapore, on November 14 and 17. The matches, against Japan and the local team, will be played at the National Stadium in Singapore, which will involve the culé player making a trip of almost 22,000 kilometers round trip.
This call-up poses a risk of injury for Barça, as Raphinha has suffered muscle problems on the three previous occasions in which he was called up to the national team. In March of this year, he was injured in a friendly against France in Boston, which cost him two months of competition. In addition, he recovered from an injury in the World Cup and during the national team break after games in Australia and India, where a problem in the back of his right thigh prevented him from participating against Galatasaray and Betis.
With the new call-up, Raphinha will once again be one of the leaders of La Roja, but his participation in these matches will coincide with a phase of the season in which Barça will have a demanding schedule. The team will play at home against Villarreal on November 22 and, a few days later, will travel to Azerbaijan for the Champions League match against Sabah on November 25.
Coach Ancelotti has valued Raphinha's experience and quality for the national team, despite the risks of injury. The forward, who has demonstrated his scoring ability at Barcelona, faces an important challenge: balancing his commitments with the national team and the club without compromising his physical health.
The next step for Raphinha will be to prepare for the friendlies in Singapore, as Barça continues its campaign in the league and the Champions League. Fans and analysts will closely monitor his form to assess whether the risk of injury materializes and how it will affect the team's performance in upcoming matches.