"I was about to accept": Raphinha on the verge of playing for the Italian national team
In an interview with journalist Isabela Pagliari, Raphinha admitted that he was very close to playing for Italy at Euro 2020. "I was ready to play for Italy ," he confessed. The 27-year-old, now a key player with FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team, saw a small administrative detail turn his international career upside down: " My passport didn't arrive on time ."
At that time, while the Seleçao was snubbing him, the Nazionale, on the other hand, was making Raphinha an ideal player for the national team. The Italian staff, in addition to Jorginho, had particularly sought him out: " It was a complicated time for me. I hadn't yet been called up by Brazil and Italy was offering me a real opportunity . They had an incredible project for me. It made me think a lot ," he admits. But even though he was attracted by the Italian project, Raphinha never really lost hope of wearing the Brazilian jersey: " Deep down, I still hoped to represent Brazil. It was more than a goal but a vocation ."
Since his first call-up to the Auriverde national team on August 13, 2021, Raphinha has made over 30 appearances for Brazil, scoring 11 goals. He was notably named to the 2024 Copa America Team of the Year, being the only Brazilian named.
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