Leeds United dealt huge Raphinha blow
Leeds United have been dealt a blow as Brazil confirmed that all of their Premier League players will not be returning early.
The Daily Mail report that Raphinha will not be returning early from international duty with Brazil, meaning that it is unlikely that the 24-year-old will be available for the game against Southampton.
The government have relaxed their quarantine rules, but Brazil play their last qualifying game of this round on the 15th, which means Raphinha won’t be back for the Whites.
Bad news for Leeds.
Ultimately, the Brazilian winger should only miss one game, and he might not even play for Brazil in that final qualifying match, but the Whites need him.
This season, he tops the club’s WhoScored rating and has already scored three goals in the league.
After Leeds’ first win of the season, the last thing they need really is to be without Raphinha.
Of course, we don’t expect Marcelo Bielsa to complain about the situation, and he will find a way to cope with it, but it would definitely be better if Leeds had him available.
This is bad news for the Whites, but you would still think they should have enough to beat Southampton as they look to move on up the table.
Raphinha got his Brazil debut and made a good impression delivering two assists in the win over Venezuela, but it is a shame that he can’t leave early to get back in good time to play for the Whites and help them.
In other Leeds United news, Pascal Struijk reveals why he is indebted to Marcelo Bielsa.