Raphinha faces Friday fitness tests to determine Getafe availability after thigh scare

Raphinha is back in Catalonia undergoing medical checks after leaving Brazil’s squad with thigh discomfort, with his availability for Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Getafe hinging on the results of tests scheduled for Friday, 2 October at the Joan Gamper training complex.

The Barcelona captain asked to come off during Brazil’s match against Australia and requested a precautionary return to the club. Mundo Deportivo report that Raphinha told Barcelona there was no cause for alarm, but the club’s medical staff need to establish the extent of the problem before clearing him to train with the group.

Barcelona acted quickly to bring Raphinha home

Head coach Hansi Flick and the club’s management requested Raphinha’s return to Catalonia rather than allow him to remain with Brazil for the rest of the international window. Barcelona are mindful of the physical toll of the international break on their Brazilian players, including a return journey of more than 40,000 kilometres that is expected to take close to a full day.

The reported plan is for Raphinha to rest on Thursday, 1 October after arriving, before undergoing decisive checks on Friday. Barcelona intend to reintegrate him gradually into full team training once the examinations are complete, with his response to that process also factoring into the decision on Getafe.

Wider fixture schedule adds to the caution

The stakes extend beyond a single league match. After Getafe, Barcelona face an away trip to Galatasaray, a Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, and El Clásico against Real Madrid — a sequence that gives the club strong reason to avoid rushing Raphinha back if the medical findings or his return to training raise any concerns.

His importance to Barcelona’s season has grown considerably under Flick. His contribution to the comeback against Sevilla earlier in the campaign illustrated the difference he makes when available, and his role as club captain adds further weight to the fitness update. For now, the club’s position is that the initial indications are reassuring, but no diagnosis has been confirmed and no clearance issued pending Friday’s tests.