Phil Hay: Raphinha will have to quarantine in the coming days
Leeds United attacker Raphinha will have to isolate for a short time this week near the club’s training ground, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
While quarantine rules were relaxed before the 24-year-old left for Brazil for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, he is not freed of all constraints.
As shared by the journalist on their website, had Raphinha featured in the 1-0 loss at Southampton, he would have been prohibited from carrying out media duties or hugging his teammates during celebrations.
The Whites star is expected to be available and raring to go for next weekend’s clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Unbelievable rules
Raphinha is able to come out of quarantine only to train or play with the rest of the Leeds squad and was also free to share the same dressing room with them had Marcelo Bielsa selected him for the Saints’ clash.
It is not precisely clear how the Premier League make these rules, but it is unclear why the Brazilian needs to quarantine again despite the fact that he would have played if the Whites head coach had included him in his plans.
Leeds were toothless at the St. Mary’s, failing to register a single shot on target, and they missed their talisman badly.
Raphinha was definitely willing to play and would have made all the difference, but Bielsa did not see the need to rush him back into action, opting to hand him a well-deserved rest after his long travel.
He has become arguably the side’s most important attacking outlet, and the fans and everyone at the club surely cannot wait to see him back in action.
In other Leeds United news, Jeff Stelling has slammed Sky Sports pundit who mocked Whites in 1-0 loss v Southampton.