The unexpected national team Raphinha could have played for before choosing Brazil

In a surprising revelation, Raphinha has admitted that his international career could have taken a completely different path. The Barcelona winger revealed that he was on the verge of representing Italy at Euro 2021, a tournament that the Azzurri ended up winning.

“I was about to play for the Italian national team for the Euro they won in 2021. Luckily, my passport did not arrive in time,” he said. The opportunity was real, as he was eligible for Italian citizenship and was already on the radar of the national team.

At the time, Brazil had not yet called him up, so Italy seemed like a fast-track route to international football. But in the end, paperwork — or the lack of it — changed everything: “Thankfully for me, the Italian passport never came,” he added.

Despite the circumstances, Raphinha never gave up on his dream of wearing the Brazil shirt. Eventually, the call arrived, and he quickly became one of the most dynamic wingers in the Selecao, playing key roles in World Cup qualifiers and in Qatar 2022.

Now 28, Raphinha is a regular for Brazil, and the twist of fate that once frustrated a move to Italy ended up guiding him to the national team he had always dreamed of. Looking back, he has no regrets.

A passport that changed everything

One delayed document kept Raphinha from playing for Italy — and opened the door to his dream of representing Brazil.