Raphinha Misses Barcelona Training — Doubts Arise Over His El Clásico Fitness
Barcelona forward Raphinha was notably absent from Friday’s group training session, sparking fresh concerns about his availability for the upcoming El Clásico clash against Real Madrid this Sunday.
The Brazilian winger has been recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. Recent signs of progress had raised optimism, with Raphinha reportedly completing two full training sessions earlier this week, giving fans hope of a timely return for the high-stakes encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu.
However, his unexpected absence today has fueled speculation that he may have suffered a minor setback in his rehabilitation process. With only one training session remaining before the team departs for Madrid, uncertainty now surrounds whether the 28-year-old will be fully fit to feature in the squad.
Adding to Barcelona’s worries, Jules Koundé has also missed two consecutive sessions due to a minor knock. Although his injury is said to be less severe, his fitness for Sunday’s fixture is now under close watch as well.
Both players’ situations come at a critical moment for manager Hansi Flick, who is already managing limited attacking options and defensive depth ahead of the season’s first major test against their archrivals.
