Raphinha Rejoins Barcelona for New Season Plans

Raphinha walked into the grey Midlands morning at St George’s Park with a clear message written across his body language: holiday over, business resumed.

The Brazilian winger has rejoined FC Barcelona’s pre-season camp in England after completing his summer break, linking up with Hansi Flick and the rest of the squad as the Catalans sharpen their plans for the new campaign and that La Liga opener against Elche on 23 August.

From bruising World Cup to fresh start

He arrives carrying more than just luggage. His last major outing with Brazil ended in frustration and pain.

Raphinha started Brazil’s first two group games at the FIFA World Cup, only for his tournament to be cut short after just 39 minutes of the second match against Haiti, when a thigh injury to his right leg forced him off. He never returned to the pitch. Brazil never really recovered either, bowing out in the round of 16 against Norway.

That World Cup felt like a missed chapter. Barcelona now expect the restart. The club are confident he is fully recovered and ready to work immediately, intent on turning that bitter international memory into fuel for the season ahead.

No rush into the friendlies

Even so, the comeback will be managed carefully.

Journalist Nil Sola reports that, as things stand, Raphinha is unlikely to feature in Barcelona’s first two pre-season friendlies in England. The Blaugrana face Birmingham City on July 31 and Preston North End on August 3, but the winger has only just joined up with the squad and is not expected to be thrown straight into action.

The temptation to use him is obvious. The plan is stricter. Flick wants Raphinha sharp in August, not limping in July.

Flick’s Ballon d’Or project

This is not just another player returning from holiday. For Flick, this is a cornerstone of his project.

During the 2024–25 season, Raphinha produced the best football of his career under the German coach. His numbers were astonishing: 34 goals and 26 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions. Those performances pushed him into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, not as a token outsider but as a genuine contender on merit.

With him on the pitch, Barcelona looked different. More aggressive. More unpredictable. They attacked with edge and pressed with conviction, the Brazilian’s energy and decision-making turning promising moves into relentless waves.

Then came last season, and the brakes slammed on.

Hamstring problems ripped holes in his campaign, limiting him to 33 appearances. He still scored 21 goals, a remarkable return given the interruptions, but the rhythm that had once made him one of Europe’s most feared wide forwards never fully returned.

Built for the long haul

That is the mission now: not just to get Raphinha fit, but to keep him there.

Both player and coach have circled this objective in bold. Flick wants the Ballon d’Or contender back, not the stop-start version who spent too much time with the medical staff. Raphinha wants his old level back, the one that had defenders backing off and awards panels taking notes.

To that end, Barcelona’s new head of physical preparation, Benjamin Kugel, has put together a bespoke fitness programme tailored specifically to the Brazilian’s needs. It is not a cosmetic tweak. It is a structural plan designed to protect those hamstrings, build resilience, and allow him to maintain peak intensity over the entire campaign.

The club believe that if this plan works, they are not just getting a winger in top shape. They are recovering one of Europe’s most influential attackers.

Raphinha’s first strides at St George’s Park were light and controlled, the kind of session that barely registers on a highlight reel. But for Barcelona, and for Flick, they could be the first steps back towards a player who once threatened to bend the season, and even the Ballon d’Or race, to his will.