Mazinho – Rafinha could part ways with Barcelona in January

Rafinha’s father Mazinho has suggested that the Brazilian could make way from Barcelona when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year. The 25-year-old has recently been in the Blaugrana mix, having been involved in three of the club’s previous five league matches but there remain genuine concerns regarding the gametime with the Catalan giants.

Speaking to Radio Galicia Sport, Mazinho highlighted that his son is far from pleased with the current situation with the Spanish champions and an exit could be on the cards when the transfer window reopens in less than 45 days’ time, he said: “It’s crazy, he can’t understand anything. Only the coach knows what he has or doesn’t have. The truth is that we’re trying to get Rafa into a situation where he plays regularly. We have to look for an exit because it’s really complicated for him here [at Barcelona]. It’s been basically two years hardly playing and he needs a club to give him 30 or 40 games a season.”

Rafinha had barely featured for the Blaugrana during the opening months of the campaign but he thereafter got the opportunity after Lionel Messi suffered an arm injury at the back end of October. Rafinha thereon impressed by scoring a wonderful Champions League goal against former club Inter Milan but the good fortune has not lasted for long with Ousmane Dembele and Malcom providing the added competition.

As such, he once more finds himself in a predicament heading into the New Year and a winter departure appears a possible option to enhance his prospects of regular gametime. Meanwhile, Barcelona saw their good run of form stutter after a rather shock 4-3 defeat at the hands of Real Betis but they have the chance to put things right when they make the trip to Atletico Madrid after the international break.