October 15
The Brazilian star's goal seems clear.
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Rafinha is set to rejoin his teammates in group training today, Thursday, after missing recent matches due to injury.
Rafinha sustained the injury during the international break while on international duty with Brazil, and subsequently missed Barça's last two matches against Getafe (La Liga) and Galatasaray (Champions League).
Catalan sources have learned that Rafinha will return to group training with Barcelona on Thursday, a significant step in his recovery.
The Brazilian winger is scheduled to take to the pitch with his teammates in a training session that will be used to assess his physical response after several days of individual training.
The plan involves Rafinha participating in at least part of the group training sessions.
The Brazilian player has been training individually on the pitch over the past few days, gradually increasing his workload. Furthermore, Barcelona's time in Istanbul (for their match against Galatasaray) allowed him to continue his recovery progress, and he is feeling increasingly well.
Rafinha's objective is clear: he wants to be ready for next Saturday's La Liga match against Real Betis. However, neither he nor the medical staff want to take any unnecessary risks, and his availability will depend entirely on his response during today's training session and his progress in the coming hours.
Rafinha is one of the most committed players in the Catalan squad, and his absence has come at a crucial time in the fixture schedule. While the Brazilian winger is eager to return as soon as possible to help his teammates, he is fully aware that a full recovery—and avoiding any setbacks—remains the top priority.
In Istanbul, during the match against Galatasaray, Barcelona missed some of the advantages the Brazilian player brings to the team's performance, particularly his dynamism and high pressing ability. However, Hansi Flick's team delivered an exceptional performance in the second half, completely neutralizing the Turkish side.
Now, with a busy schedule and crucial matches looming, Rafinha's return will be a significant boost for the Catalan coaching staff.
If things continue to improve and Flick deems the time right, the Brazilian could be included in the squad traveling to Seville to face Real Betis. While his participation is not yet guaranteed, Thursday's training session could be decisive in bringing his return to the pitch closer.
Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong will also participate in the training session. After rejoining the group last week, the Dutchman – as Hansi Flick explained in a press conference – could receive medical clearance this week, opening the door for his inclusion in the squad for the match against Real Betis.
