Ancelotti defends Rafinha call amid Laporta's objections

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed questions at a press conference on November 13, 2026, ahead of two international friendlies against Japan and Singapore, after reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta was upset by the call-up of Rafinha. The first match is scheduled for November 14, 2026 in Japan.

Club pressure and national priorities

Ancelotti described Japan as a strong and improving opponent and underlined that the Brazilian staff expects a difficult game.

"Japan is a very competitive opponent. In recent years they have shown how well they compete and how much they have progressed. They confirmed that at the World Cup. They have excellent players and we face an extremely tough match," Ancelotti said.

Questions at the conference also focused on pressure from European clubs that prefer their stars to skip friendly windows. Laporta was reportedly angered by Rafinha's inclusion after the player suffered an injury in a recent friendly against Australia.

Responding to those concerns, Ancelotti emphasised the Brazil team's medical oversight and workload management: "Players' health is always a priority. If a player can come and be fully fit, then we will monitor his status. We will control the minutes of all players and assess the situation. We have all the necessary information to take care of each player's workload and clubs can be reassured when it comes to the national team. We have a top squad, players' health is our priority and we will do everything to get them back ready. Criticism is normal. We are in a period of transition, with new players, and we are building a strong group for the future," Ancelotti said.

On Rafinha specifically, the coach praised the player's versatility and form: "Rafinha is great here and at Barcelona. He shows impressive quality at the Catalan club and it's clear he can also play as a forward," the Italian coach concluded.

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