Flick and Barcelona furious over superstar’s injury on national team duty | OneFootball

Barcelona are not hiding their frustration after losing Raphinha to injury during the international break, with tensions growing over how the situation was handled.

According to reports from SPORT, both Hansi Flick and the club are deeply unhappy with the circumstances that led to the winger’s setback. 

The issue is not just the injury itself, but everything surrounding it, including the travel, the schedule, and the evident lack of necessity.

Raphinha is now expected to be sidelined for around five weeks after suffering a hamstring injury while representing Brazil in a friendly against France. 

Notably, the club is entering a decisive phase of the season, with just two months remaining, and it is understandable why they feel the international calendar places additional physical demands on the players.

Frustration all around

What has particularly angered Barcelona is the nature of the fixture. 

The match in question carried no competitive weight, yet required a long-haul trip, significant time zone adjustments, and high physical intensity. 

Raphinha was injured on international duty. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

From the club’s perspective, exposing a player, especially one with a recent injury record, to such conditions was an absolutely unnecessary risk.

Right now, there is a growing sense that player welfare was not prioritised. 

This is because Raphinha has already dealt with multiple muscle-related issues this season, making careful management essential. 

Instead, he was involved in a demanding schedule that ultimately led to another setback.

The frustration is doubled by how crucial the Brazilian has become within Flick’s system. 

Hence, losing him at this stage forces the manager to rethink his options at a time when consistency is vital.

Simply put, Barcelona’s reaction is perfectly natural. They have all the right to be angry, and while there will be compensation from FIFA for the loss, it hardly carries any weight at the moment.