Raphinha against the World Cup: "It's unfair to give up holidays because you have to play"

Barcelona's number 11 has expressed criticism against the format of the new tournament, accusing FIFA of ignoring players' rights and underlining the importance of the summer break, put at risk by a tight and top-down calendar

On holiday in Sao Paulo (Brazil), Raphinha spoke bluntly: according to the Barcelona winger, the new format of the Club World Cup forces players to sacrifice their summer holidays, which are essential for recovering physical and mental energy after an intense season. “It is very difficult to give up holidays to play something we are forced to do,” he said critically during an event.

The Blaugrana number 11 also denounced the lack of dialogue between football institutions and players. “At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what dates were ideal. They simply said: 'You have to go and that's it',” explained Raphinha.

A clear indictment of the authoritarian approach adopted in planning the new tournament.

The 28-year-old defended the right of footballers to rest, stressing that at least three weeks or a month of vacation are essential. “Many of those participating in the World Cup will not have vacations. It is unacceptable,” he added. The message is clear: more consideration for the health and voice of athletes.

Although Barcelona is not among the teams participating in the Club World Cup, Raphinha's thoughts reflect a widespread malaise among many players at Europe's top clubs. FIFA, in its attempt to expand the global football brand, risks increasingly compromising the sustainability of the seasonal calendar.

Raphinha's words further shed light on an increasingly hot topic in modern football: the saturation of the calendar and the lack of listening to those who play football.