Xavi could consider using Barcelona winger in midfield to make up for Gavi’s loss

Journalist Javier Miguel is reporting via AS that Barcelona manager Xavi might use Raphinha as an interior after losing Gavi through an ACL tear for the rest of the season.

Raphinha’s season has encountered a challenging start. His first game of the new season took a detrimental turn as he received a red card for an unnecessary elbow, resulting in a two-match suspension.

Adding to the setbacks, he faced an injury a month and a half later, causing him to miss four more games. His return coincided with El Clasico, but despite his appearance in the second half, his efforts were unable to prevent Real Madrid from securing the victory.

Since recovering from the injury, Raphinha’s performance has notably declined. He hasn’t made a significant impact in any of the subsequent games.

So what next for Raphinha?

While we have already reported that Barcelona are not considering selling the Brazil international, a change in position might as well do the trick.

After a solid debut season, where he scored 10 goals across all competitions, Raphinha’s promising trajectory of his career has experienced a decline in recent weeks.

Raphinha has had an underwhelming season so far (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

Over the past few matches, Xavi has tried to accommodate him across various positions, but the results have been less than satisfactory.

Notably, in clashes against both Celta and Sevilla, he was deployed in the midfield, but he failed to make the most of the opportunities. 

A new role awaits

At this moment, though, the recent injury to Gavi might provide another opportunity for him to reclaim a pivotal position, yet his on-field display has, thus far, left much to be desired.

Complicating matters, the rapid rise of Lamine Yamal and the consistent playing time awarded to Ferran Torres have hindered his efforts to rediscover comfort on the right wing, leaving him no choice but to settle for an unfamiliar role.

There has indeed been a decline in…

Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/xavi-could-consider-using-barcelona-winger-in-midfield-to-make-up-for-gavis-loss/

Author : Ash Reyna

Publish date : 2023-11-22 08:18:33

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