Raphinha Issues apology after his outburst following his substitution against Manchester United.
Barcelona’s Europa League clash with Manchester United was not without drama, as winger Raphinha drew attention with his reaction to being substituted during the 2-2 draw.
The Brazilian had made a significant impact on the game, setting up Marcos Alonso’s opening goal and later equalizing for the Catalan giants in the second half. However, his number was called and he was replaced with just ten minutes remaining on the clock.
Upon being taken off the pitch, the 26-year-old was seen punching the seat in front of him in frustration. Jordi Alba attempted to calm him down, but Raphinha’s replacement, Ferran Torres, was left to see out the remainder of the game.
Following the match, Raphinha was quick to apologize for his outburst, expressing his remorse to Xavi and the rest of the team. “I take this opportunity to apologize to everyone, the coach, Ferran, the team, and the fans,” he said. “Sometimes you want to help so badly that you can’t control it.”
Despite the incident, Xavi assured reporters that Raphinha had nothing to worry about.
The former Leeds United star will now be hoping to put the issue behind him and help guide Barcelona to a win over Manchester United in the return leg of the fixture.