Brazilian star Raphinha, Barcelona’s winger, revealed that he was close to representing the Italian national team ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, which Italy eventually won. However, a delay in issuing his Italian passport prevented the move, paving the way for his future with Brazil.
Speaking to journalist Isabella Pagliari, Raphinha said former Italy coach Roberto Mancini formally approached him to join the Azzurri for Euro 2020, which was held a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Raphinha is eligible for Italian citizenship through his father, who holds dual Italian and Brazilian nationality.
“The plan they presented to me was impressive and very appealing,” Raphinha explained. “I was very close to accepting the call-up, but the passport didn’t arrive in time.”
He added that Italy international Jorginho, who is of Brazilian descent, kept in regular contact with him during that time. “There was always a 1% hope inside me that I could still play for Brazil,” Raphinha admitted. “Luckily, the passport delay meant I didn’t go to the Euros, and I finally got the call from Brazil in 2021.”
Since then, Raphinha has been a regular part of the Seleção, earning 33 caps and scoring 11 goals since his first appearance under former coach Tite.
Currently, the Barcelona winger is enjoying the peak of his career, having scored 31 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions this season. His performances have made him one of the frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
His remarks came just hours before Barcelona’s clash against Inter Milan in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg.
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