Everything comes to an end, and Rafinha’s career as a footballer has now reached its final chapter. In a video shared on his social media channels (featuring images from his time at La Masia and the Champions League triumph with FC Barcelona in the 2014/15 season) the Brazilian announced that he is hanging up his boots at the age of 32.

Life in blaugrana

The Brazilian, who explained that a knee injury is preventing him from competing at the highest level, joined FC Barcelona at the age of 13. After impressing throughout the club’s youth ranks, he made his first-team debut on 9 November 2011 under Pep Guardiola, wearing the number 34 shirt, in a Copa del Rey match away to L’Hospitalet.

Following several seasons with Barça B and sporadic appearances for the first team, Rafinha spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at Celta Vigo. His consolidation in the senior side came with the arrival of Luis Enrique in the summer of 2014, a coach he had also worked with in Vigo. The three seasons under the Asturian were those in which Rafinha featured most regularly for the first team. However, a serious injury suffered in Rome curtailed his progress, keeping him sidelined for more than 200 days between late 2015 and early 2016.

In January 2018, fully recovered, he joined Inter Milan on loan for the second half of the season, before returning for the 2018/19 campaign. That season, the Brazilian played nine matches and scored one goal before suffering another serious injury in a league fixture against Atlético Madrid. In 2019/20, he again went out on loan to Celta before eventually completing a permanent move to Paris Saint-Germain.

11 trophies with FC Barcelona

Rafinha’s honours as a Barça player total 11 trophies: one Champions League, three LaLiga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, one UEFA Super Cup, two Spanish Super Cups and one Club World Cup. He also contributed 12 goals in 89 appearances wearing the FC Barcelona shirt.

Now, a new chapter begins in Rafinha’s life.

Força Barça