According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday November 11, 2026, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has come to the defence of Barcelona captain Raphinha following criticism surrounding the winger's comments about his expected playing time during Brazil's international break.

Raphinha is currently with the Brazilian national team ahead of two international friendly matches against Singapore and Japan.

However, there have been concerns at Barcelona about the workload the 29-year-old could face during the international break, with the Catalan club hoping that Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti will carefully manage his minutes and ensure he returns without any injury problems.

Before joining the national team, Raphinha had told supporters not to worry about his situation, explaining that he had spoken with Ancelotti about his playing time.

His comments generated some controversy in Brazil, with suggestions that the Barcelona forward wanted to use the international break to rest rather than feature for his country.

But Gabriel Magalhães has rejected that interpretation, insisting that Raphinha's words were misunderstood.

Speaking during a press conference, the Arsenal centre-back explained that professional footballers naturally need rest because of the demanding schedules they face, particularly those playing in Europe.

"We are high-level players and what we always want is to play. Regarding Raphinha's situation, his expression was misinterpreted. We are human beings and, obviously, we need rest, even mentally. In Europe, we play every two or three days… That's a lot of games," Gabriel said.

The Brazilian defender acknowledged that players have demanding schedules at club level but stressed that representing their country remains something they enjoy and value.

He also dismissed suggestions that Raphinha had joined the national team simply to take a break from competitive football.

"When we come to the national team, we want to make the most of it, learn, and many people misinterpret something we say. That's what happened with Raphinha. We didn't see any statement that he came to rest. We know how much he gives to the national team. He's an exemplary guy for us," he added.

Gabriel's comments represent a strong show of support for the Barcelona captain, who has become an important figure for Brazil as well as his club.

Raphinha is expected to captain the Selecao when they face Singapore in their first friendly on Saturday.

Brazil will also take on Japan during the international break, with Ancelotti having the responsibility of managing his squad throughout both encounters.

For Barcelona, the main concern will be ensuring that Raphinha returns to Spain in good physical condition.

The winger remains an important player for the Catalan side, and the club would not want to lose him to another injury during a period when they are looking to maintain their competitiveness in domestic and European competitions.

However, Gabriel's defence makes it clear that needing recovery time should not be confused with a lack of commitment to international football.

The Arsenal defender believes Raphinha remains fully committed to Brazil and deserves to have his comments understood in the right context.

With the two friendlies approaching, attention will now turn to how Ancelotti manages the Barcelona star's involvement and whether he features prominently in both matches.