Hansi Flick makes Raphinha return decision ahead of Barcelona clashes with PSG and Real Madrid

Barcelona caput manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that Raphinha is disposable for Saturday's La Liga clash with Real Betis, but has warned that the Brazilian's tendency to instrumentality to the starting XI volition not dictate his betterment program up of important matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old has missed Barcelona's past 2 matches aft suffering a close thigh occupation portion representing Brazil during the planetary break.

Although aesculapian examinations ruled retired a superior injury, Flick opted to keep Raphinha connected the sidelines for the victories implicit Getafe and Galatasaray, mindful of the muscular problems that disrupted his erstwhile campaign.

The determination has allowed the winger further betterment time, with Barcelona maintaining their cleanable commencement to the play successful his absence.

However, with 3 demanding fixtures approaching successful 8 days, Flick faces a delicate determination implicit however rapidly to reintegrate 1 of his astir influential attacking players.

Speaking astatine Friday's pre-match property conference, the German confirmed that Raphinha had resumed afloat grooming and would beryllium disposable against Betis, though helium stopped abbreviated of promising him a starting place.

Flick explains wherefore Raphinha volition not beryllium rushed back

"If you inquire him, he'll archer you he's acceptable to start, but for me, I person to instrumentality it measurement by measurement with him," Flick told reporters.

"He trained good with the radical yesterday, but we inactive person a batch of matches to play implicit the coming days and weeks, truthful we person to negociate the situation."

"The bully quality is that he'll beryllium available, and truthful volition Frenkie."

The comments suggest that Raphinha could initially beryllium utilized from the seat against Betis, allowing him to regain lucifer fittingness without instantly taking connected a afloat workload.

Flick's caution is understandable fixed the problems the Brazil planetary experienced during the 2025-26 campaign.

Raphinha suffered respective injuries affecting the aforesaid thigh, including a setback that resulted successful a 58-day lack aft an earlier effort to accelerate his recovery.

That acquisition has influenced Barcelona's attack to his latest problem, with the coaching unit determined to debar exposing him to unnecessary risks.

The determination is peculiarly important due to the fact that of Raphinha's bonzer publication during the opening weeks of the season.

Before his injury, the erstwhile Leeds United winger had registered 14 goals and 3 assists successful conscionable 8 appearances crossed each competitions, establishing himself arsenic 1 of Europe's astir productive attacking players.

His lack has nevertheless provided opportunities for different members of Flick's squad.

Former Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus scored connected his archetypal Barcelona commencement against Getafe, portion Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez person besides been utilized successful precocious attacking roles.

Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi supply further options successful wide areas, with some players scoring during Tuesday's 4-1 Champions League triumph implicit Galatasaray.

Barcelona's continued occurrence has truthful reduced the contiguous unit connected Flick to reconstruct Raphinha to the starting XI earlier helium is afloat prepared.

PSG and Real Madrid fixtures signifier Barcelona's Raphinha plans

Barcelona's adjacent 3 matches volition supply a important introspection of Flick's squad management.

The Catalan giants sojourn third-placed Real Betis connected Saturday earlier travelling to Paris to look reigning European champions PSG successful the Champions League connected Tuesday, October 20.

Five days later, they big Real Madrid successful the archetypal Clasico of the season, a lucifer that could person important implications for the La Liga rubric race.

Raphinha's instrumentality would supply a sizeable boost up of those fixtures, peculiarly fixed his goalscoring signifier and value to Barcelona's pressing system.

However, Flick has not indicated that the winger is being deliberately rested for either PSG oregon Madrid. His precedence is to negociate the Brazilian's betterment according to his carnal information alternatively than perpetrate to a circumstantial instrumentality to the starting line-up.

Barcelona person won each 10 of their competitory matches this season, scoring 43 goals, and the German has capable attacking alternatives to debar taking unnecessary risks.

The availability of Frenkie de Jong offers different boost, with the Netherlands planetary besides recovering from a genu wounded that has prevented him from featuring this season.

Flick confirmed that De Jong is acceptable to person immoderate playing clip against Betis, though his instrumentality volition likewise beryllium managed carefully.

The Barcelona manager indispensable besides see the workload of Lamine Yamal, who has been heavy progressive passim the team's singular winning run.

For Raphinha, Saturday's brushwood could supply the archetypal competitory minutes of his comeback.

Whether helium starts against PSG 3 days aboriginal volition beryllium connected however his betterment progresses, with Flick determined to debar different setback during 1 of Barcelona's astir demanding periods of the season.