Raphinha, a Brazilian winger, disclosed that he was close to accepting a call-up to the Italian national team before deciding to play for Brazil instead.
Raphinha talked about the crucial moments that led to his decision in an interview with journalist Isabela Pagliari, which was shared on Monday
Essentially, I was set to join the squad for the tournament they won in 2020. Everything seemed aligned for my participation until my Italian passport didn’t arrive in time. The Barcelona forward elaborated on the ongoing interest from the Italian football authorities at that time, highlighting his connections with key figures in the national setup. “During that period, members of the Italian national team were reaching out to me regularly. Jorginho, in particular, would call me often to discuss their plans. The Italian staff had developed an impressive project for me that captured my attention deeply,” he explained.
Although the prospect of joining a successful European team was enticing, Raphinha admitted that he still held a small hope of wearing the Brazilian jersey.
“However, simultaneously, I clung to that one percent of hope within me that I could still represent my country of birth. He commented, “And fortunately, because of the delay in processing my Italian passport, that opportunity for Italy slipped away!”
Since those crucial instances, Raphinha has successfully established himself on the international scene, realizing his aspiration of representing Brazil and demonstrating his abilities worldwide.
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