Sport criticises Ancelotti for calling up Raphinha to Brazil squad

Sport criticised Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for calling up Barcelona player Raphinha to the national team’s camp during the international break. Brazil are set to face Japan and then Singapore in friendlies, according to the source.

The newspaper considers Raphinha’s call-up unnecessary, noting that after renewing his contract with Barcelona, the player hinted that he had not yet regained full fitness. The criticism also cited the long journey to Singapore and the time difference, as well as Raphinha’s previous injuries during national-team camps and the resulting absences from Barcelona matches.

Sport added that Raphinha’s discussion with Ancelotti about managing his playing time was misunderstood in Brazil, and that the player seemed out of place among the young players called up to prove themselves, including Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Estêvão and André Santos. The newspaper said that, given his strong performances for Barcelona, according to the source, Raphinha did not need to prove himself at the camp, and that it believes staying in Spain would have been better for him.

The source also noted that former Brazilian player Roger Flores defended Ancelotti’s decision not to call up players from Flamengo or Palmeiras, who are competing for the Brazilian league title.