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Hansi Flick has confirmed that Barcelona will be without the hottest player in world football for a minimum of two upcoming fixtures.
Raphinha flagged a problem in his right thigh during Brazil's exhausting tour of Australia last month. The prolific winger withdrew from the squad before even reaching the Indian leg of the team's globe-trotting schedule, raising concerns about how Barcelona would cope without a player who has already racked up 14 goals in eight club appearances this season.
Flick eased worries about the seriousness of Raphinha's problem. "The scan showed something, but it's not a serious injury," he reassured reporters at Friday's press conference. "He is doing well, has no pain and can do everything."
However, caution would need to be taken. "He needs a little more time," Flick added. "It's something we have to manage carefully because last season he suffered three injuries in the same area."
That cautious approach has resulted in Raphinha being kept out of the starting lineup for the time being.
The Two Games Raphinha Is Guaranteed to Miss
Flick will be deprived of La Liga's top scorer for two contrasting fixtures: a league encounter with Getafe and a challenging away trip to Türkiye to face Galatasaray.
Getafe travel to Camp Nou on Saturday with a dismal record and possibly other matters weighing on their minds. The Madrid outfit have never managed a victory against the Catalan club at their iconic ground since first visiting in 2005 (19 losses, four draws). Getafe have spent only 70 combined minutes ahead on the scoreboard against Barcelona across 34 and a half hours of football at Camp Nou (3.4%).
José Bordalas's tenacious side, who tend to make life difficult for every other team in the division except Barcelona, also face the added distraction of their first UEFA Conference League group stage tie the following Thursday.
Barça are also in European action next week, and Raphinha will be forced to miss the club's visit to the intimidating atmosphere of Galatasaray's RAMS Park. The reigning Turkish champions have suffered just one home defeat across all competitions over the past 11 months, seeing off the likes of Atlético Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool during that remarkable run of form.
The loss of Raphinha, Flick's self-appointed captain, for such a demanding fixture will put Barcelona's remaining leaders to the test, including teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who is just 19 years old.
Whether Raphinha will return for the following weekend's away match at Real Betis remains uncertain. A string of crucial fixtures looms on the horizon, including a Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain (Oct. 20) and the season's first Clásico against Real Madrid (Oct. 25).
Flick Reveals How Barcelona Will Replace Raphinha
Flick appears unconcerned about keeping his plans under wraps. After informing both Getafe and Galatasaray that they wouldn't need to contend with Raphinha's distinctive threat, Barcelona's head coach disclosed that "the idea" was for Gabriel Jesus to step into his fellow Brazilian's shoes.
The former Arsenal forward made a swift move to Catalonia at the close of the summer transfer window after Barça eventually accepted that Julián Alvarez could not be lured away from Atlético Madrid. Jesus has been restricted to four substitute outings at this early point in his Camp Nou career, but the two goals he has scored in that time have persuaded Flick of his capabilities.
"He has improved greatly and adapted to our style and the way we want to play," Flick said of the new signing. "Gabriel has trained really well over the past few weeks, and we are very pleased with him."
Despite his promising start in front of goal, Jesus's primary responsibility as Raphinha's replacement will be executing Flick's intense high press. "As captain, he leads the charge and everyone follows," the manager has enthused when assessing Raphinha's displays. "We always begin with the No. 9 and he has that incredible hunger and intensity, the mentality and attitude we need." Matching that level of energy will be Jesus's greatest challenge.