Raphinha Gets a Repair Plan. Barça Wore Him Down First

Hansi Flick is not waiting for another medical statement. According to Catalan newspaper “Sport”, Raphinha will be given an individual training programme designed to reduce the risk of further muscle injuries. Barcelona have finally discovered a revolutionary method: if a player keeps breaking down, perhaps stop running him into the ground.

There are good reasons for the concern. The Brazilian missed around five weeks with a hamstring injury before another setback heavily restricted his World Cup campaign. “El País” reported that it was already his fourth muscle injury of the season. Barça won 87% of their matches with Raphinha on the pitch, while five of their seven defeats came without him. Nothing accelerates injury prevention quite like seeing the results without a key player.

Flick still considers Raphinha an important part of the team despite the arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. The Brazilian will therefore begin preparations with his own personal instruction manual. Barça have signed two more wingers, but their biggest reinforcement may simply be keeping the one they already had fit.