Why Did Raphinha Point to His Hand Bandage During El Clasico?
By Oleksii Yani – May 11, 2025
In a dramatic El Clasico at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Raphinha scored twice in the first half to help Barcelona rally from 2-0 down to lead 4-2. After each goal, the Brazilian winger gestured toward the bandage on his right hand—a move widely seen as a response to lingering doping allegations.
Back in October 2024, UEFA carried out standard anti-doping tests at Barcelona’s training ground. Raphinha was one of the players tested, though the checks happened amid ongoing speculation and previous accusations aimed at both Barcelona and Real Madrid players.
Adding fuel to the fire, earlier in 2025 a former Real Madrid doctor publicly accused some Barcelona players of using performance-enhancing drugs and allegedly concealing evidence under medical bandages.
Raphinha’s gesture can be interpreted as a powerful rebuttal to those claims. By highlighting the bandage after scoring in such a high-stakes match, he not only reaffirmed his own integrity but also stood against the culture of unverified accusations that many athletes fac.
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