Raphinha confirmed to journalist Isabela Pagliari on her ‘YouTube’ channel: “I was close to accepting the call-up from the Italian national team.” He went further and revealed the reason why he ultimately did not wear the Azzurra: “I was supposed to go to the European Championship that they won in 2020. I was practically ready to go. Luckily, the passport didn’t arrive.” This stroke of luck, as Raphinha saw it, would end up making him where he is today.
The now-star of Barcelona, about five years ago, did not lose hope of playing with Brazil despite the siren songs that were coming to him from Italy. Even though, at the time, he didn’t have any way to really guarantee whether Brazil was an option for him.
“At that time, the people from the Italian national team were calling me. Jorginho was calling me constantly. The Italian coaching staff had an incredible project for me, something that really caught my attention.”
Italian project was intriguing
Although Italy was putting a very interesting proposal on the table, with the passage of time and now that he is an undisputed starter with Brazil, he is grateful for not having played with the Azzurra.
“But at the same time, deep down, I still had a little hope of being able to wear the Brazil jersey. And luckily, my Italian passport didn’t arrive on time!”, acknowledged the Barcelona player.
Raphinha’s gratitude and current success
Looking back at the situation, Raphinha expresses immense gratitude for the way things turned out. He cherishes the opportunity to represent his home country and contribute to Brazil’s soccer legacy. He said, “I am thankful every day that I can come back to my nation and be with my compatriots. This is something I could not trade for all the goals in the world!“
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Raphinha matches Neymar’s impressive record at Barcelona after goal against Real Valladolid
Today, Raphinha is an essential piece of the Brazilian national team, showcasing his talent, speed, and goal-scoring ability on the international stage. He is excited to hopefully help his home country lift another World Cup trophy.
