Barcelona forward Raphinha did not take well at all the decision of Brazil’s Italian coach to play him in the last 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Bolivia.
According to Spanish media, the 27-year-old believed his presence in this match was unnecessary, since the result no longer mattered for Seleção, while the playing conditions at the “El Alto” stadium were extremely difficult due to its 4,000-meter altitude above sea level.
Raphinha was brought on in the second half, with the Italian coach hoping to avoid an embarrassing defeat for Brazil. However, this decision sparked major controversy, as the Barcelona player ended up playing a total of 108 minutes across the two recent matches against Chile and Bolivia, while stars like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, and Éder Militão were not called up at all, being left to rest.
This episode is expected to trigger new debates in Brazil, as the Italian coach’s decisions have left not only the fans dissatisfied, but seemingly also the players themselves.
