Despite the suspension, Brazil refuse to release Raphinha to Barcelona

Brazil have no intention of releasing Raphinha to Barcelona early, despite the forward being sent off in the friendly against Japan. Rodrigo Caetano, the Brazilian Football Confederation’s general director of national teams, confirmed the decision.

Journalist Fernando Polo reports that a CBF representative confirmed after a meeting that the Catalan club will not get the player back before the international camp ends. Raphinha will therefore stay with the national team in Singapore.

The winger will miss the next friendly after being shown a red card against Japan and will be unable to take the field for Brazil. However, the national team staff have decided not to change his status or send him back to his club.

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For Barcelona, this means Raphinha will rejoin the squad later than might have seemed likely after his dismissal. The Catalans will now have to wait for Brazil’s camp to conclude and one of their key attacking players to return.