Barcelona president warns that the world football governing body must come up with a schedule favourable for clubs
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has criticised Fifa after Raphinha was ruled out for up to five weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during the international break.
The 29-year-old picked up the injury in Brazil’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France in Massachusetts. He is now set to miss key fixtures, including the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, a potential semi-final against either Arsenal or Sporting, and several La Liga matches as Barcelona contend with Real Madrid in the title race in the Spanish top flight.
“It’s infuriating that one of your best players gets injured in a friendly between France and Brazil,” Laporta said.
“You can’t leave the responsibility of playing or not with the player, because they’re professionals who give everything for their country, but Fifa have to come up with a calendar that has the biggest club competitions in mind.
“We’re playing for our lives at this point of the season. It’s shocking, but it’s an age-old discussion now.”
This is the third time this season Raphinha has suffered a hamstring issue, having previously missed 13 matches between September and November and a further three in February. He could return in time for the clásico against Madrid on 10 May.
His absence is expected to open the door for Marcus Rashford, whose longest runs in the team this season have come when Raphinha has been unavailable. Rashford is the leading candidate to start in the upcoming league match against Atletico, although Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Joao Cancelo are also options.
Rashford has registered 10 goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances this season, with Barcelona holding an option to make his move permanent for €30m in the summer.
Elsewhere, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde have returned to training, while Frenkie de Jong is nearing a comeback. Andreas Christensen and Raphinha remain the only long-term absentees.
