Raphinha returned to Barcelona on Monday after spending several days in Brazil to reset mentally and recover his balance following a severe right hamstring injury. Barcelona want the 29-year-old back in time for the Clásico against Real Madrid on 10 May at the Camp Nou.
Hansi Flick gave Raphinha special permission to make the trip after the forward was left deeply frustrated by the injury he sustained in a friendly against France. Flick and Deco decided he should spend a few days with his family in Brazil, and the coach said the winger would be back with the team on Monday.
The injury is not Raphinha’s first setback this season, a fact that has shaped Barcelona’s handling of his recovery. Medical estimates point to an absence of around five weeks, which leaves the club working against the clock as it tries to have him available for one of the biggest dates on its calendar.
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For Barcelona, the next step is simple to state and harder to guarantee: keep Raphinha fit, keep him calm and hope the timeline holds long enough for him to face Real Madrid in May.
