#raphinha

#raphinha

As Barcelona gear up for their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Albacete, uncertainty has emerged around the availability of Raphinha. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian winger did not train with the group in Barcelona's final session before the trip, placing his involvement in Tuesday's knockout tie in serious doubt. Barcelona completed their last training session on Monday ahead of their journey to Albacete, with the focus on avoiding any surprises in the cup.

According to an update shared by Mundo Deportivo, an interesting revelation has emerged from within Real Madrid circles. It has come to light that club president Florentino Perez has privately admitted to people close to him that Raphinha is the Barcelona player he admires the most. This confession is particularly striking given the talent Barcelona currently boast, including global sensations like Lamine Yamal and midfield maestro Pedri. Yet, in Perez's eyes, it is the Brazilian winger who stands above the rest.

His actions have not gone down well, leading to accusations of a lack of sportsmanship, and Laporta felt the France captain had not behaved correctly. He told RAC-1: "I'm surprised by what he did. In victory and defeat you have to be generous and respectful. This is sport and you must show good behaviour. I think we, in victory, were generous and respected the opposing team. That's why I can't understand it."

After a series of speculations, Barcelona have finally made a breakthrough in the deal to sign Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese international is set to join Barcelona on a short-term loan deal worth €5 million, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. The Catalans are planning to announce the Cancelo deal later this week, having reached an agreement with Al Hilal. Further confirmation of Cancelo's move to Barcelona came from Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi today.

"He's not talked about enough, but for me he's crucial. Other players get a lot of attention and he's overlooked, but he's a vital player for what Barça does,"