Storm in Barcelona: Star received a red card, but will not be released from the national team

Raphinha was sent off with a red card in Brazil's loss to Japan, but the Brazilian Football Confederation will not release him early to Barcelona. The technical director Caetano explained: "He is one of our leaders." The Catalan club fears the workload on the player, who remains with the national team in Singapore.

Raphinha, Barcelona's star, was sent off with a red card during Brazil's 3-2 loss to Japan last night (Saturday). Despite the red card, the Brazilian Football Confederation decided not to release him early to Barcelona, and he will have to stay with the national team in Singapore until the end of the international break. The technical director of Brazil's men's national teams, Rodrigo Caetano, explained that Raphinha is one of the team's leaders and therefore will remain. The decision is unusual, as in similar cases the confederation used to release suspended players. The decision was made with the player's consent, according to a report in the Spanish newspaper AS. For Barcelona, this is a sensitive period: Raphinha has dealt with muscle injuries in the past, and the club fears the workload. Barcelona will host Villarreal on November 22 and will play in the Champions League three days later.