Ancelotti criticised as Raphinha faces 22,000km Brazil trip

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has selected Barcelona forward Raphinha for the national team’s upcoming friendly matches against Japan and Singapore, prompting criticism over the demands being placed on the player.

Raphinha is expected to travel almost 22,000 kilometres on the round trip during the next international break. His call-up has also increased concern at Barcelona over the possibility of another injury, following a period in which the forward has had limited involvement for the club.

Journalist Juan Boque, speaking to Cadena SER, suggested that Raphinha should avoid travelling by claiming to be injured.

“It is very simple. What he has to do is get injured,” Boque said.

He added that Raphinha should report feeling pain after Barcelona’s match against Atletico Madrid.

“After the Atletico Madrid game, Raphinha should say that he is feeling some discomfort. Barcelona’s players need to learn to do that,” he said.

Boque pointed to Kylian Mbappe as an example, claiming the Real Madrid forward had used a similar approach with France.

“Kylian Mbappe has already done that with the France national team, and he did not miss a single match for Real Madrid,” he said.

Analyst Ivan San Antonio also criticised Ancelotti for selecting Raphinha, arguing that the Brazil manager’s previous call-ups had been followed by injury problems.

“Ancelotti is a rude person. He has called him up three times, and every time he has ended up injured,” San Antonio said.

Raphinha has not played regularly for Barcelona since his latest injury. San Antonio said the club had expected to bring the player back gradually, only for the Brazil selection to require him to return to international duty for matches without any competitive consequences.

“After the injury, Raphinha did not play much for Barcelona. We thought we would be able to recover him reasonably well, but he will now have to return to the Brazil team to play friendly matches in which nothing is at stake,” he said.

San Antonio concluded by saying Ancelotti should have shown greater consideration for the player.

“Carlo Ancelotti should have shown more humanity,” he said.