Raphinha sidelined for five weeks following injury during international friendly

Barcelona forward Raphinha has been ruled out for approximately five weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during a friendly match between Brazil and France. The 29-year-old player returned to Barcelona for medical assessment and treatment. Reports from FootMercato suggest that the player had informed the Brazilian staff of discomfort prior to the game, leading to frustration within the Barcelona organization regarding his participation. Raphinha is expected to miss critical fixtures, including the Champions League quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid and the Catalan derby against Espanyol. While some sources indicate a return for the May 10th El Clasico against Real Madrid, others highlight the player's history of hamstring issues this season. Medical evaluations are ongoing to determine the precise recovery timeline. The club emphasizes that the injury poses a significant challenge during a vital stretch of the season.