Things have just gone from bad to worse for ‘unbelievable’ Leeds United player – Our View

Follow us on Google Discover

A number of Brazilian players won’t be able to play in the Premier League this weekend.

There’s a lot to be said about the current debacle going on with the Premier League’s Brazilian contingent, but one player you have to feel for is Leeds United’s Raphinha.

Yes, while the likes of Alisson, Fabinho and Fred have every reason to be upset with these sanctions, but Raphinha will surely be more downhearted than anyone else.

Put yourself in his shoes for a second.

Raphinha was due to receive his first-ever national team call-up, which would likely have been one of the greatest and proudest moments of his career, but due to ongoing travel restrictions, the 24-year-old decided he wouldn’t make his international bow this time around.

Andrea Radirzzani has praised Raphinha for his handling of the situation, describing how he turned down the chance to play for Brazil in order to respect the current situation regarding travel.

“We invited him to make a decision and he decided no. He showed great respect for his club and the Premier League in giving up this opportunity to play for his country for the first time,” Radrizzani said.

Raphinha could easily have kicked up a fuss and gone against Radrizzani’s wishes, but he didn’t he decided to go along with the Premier League rules and gave up his chance to make his debut.

What’s his reward? To miss one of the biggest games of the season against Liverpool at Elland Road.

This weekend’s game will undoubtedly produce one of the best atmospheres we see in the Premier League this season, but sadly Raphinha won’t be able to play in it, and he doesn’t even have an international cap to show for it.

Who’s to say that Raphinha will ever get the opportunity to play for his country again? Of course, the likelihood is that he will – after all, he’s a player that has been described as ‘unbelievable’, but anything can happen in football.

A dip in form or a horror injury could be just around the corner, and with Brazil being a country so full of talent, you can never guarantee that even the most talented of footballers will be called up.

Raphinha being denied his first international cap must have been hard, but being ruled out of one of the biggest games of Leeds’ season is simply the icing on this cruel and bitter cake.