Captain and reference of the team, the right back will reach a historic milestone with the Paulista tricolor shirt, in the clash against Talleres
São Paulo continues preparing for the duel against Talleres, in Córdoba, on April 4, in the first round of group B, of the Libertadores. However, the match will be memorable for one player in particular from the team. After all, right back Rafinha will complete 100 matches wearing the Paulista tricolor shirt.
Since arriving at the club, the team captain has played 50 games in 2022, 45 in 2023 and has taken the field four more times this season. Game 99 proved frustrating, as against Novorizontino, with the team’s elimination from the Campeonato Paulista.
Furthermore, the player will also return to compete in the Libertadores after four years. The last time he played in the competition was in March 2020, when he participated in Flamengo’s debut in a 3-0 win against Barcelona de Guayaquil, of Ecuador, at the Maracanã. He then organized a transfer to Olympiacos, from Greece.
He also had the chance to compete in the Libertadores again in 2021, when he signed with Grêmio. However, Tricolor Gaúcho was eliminated in the preliminary round against Independiente del Valle a few days after the player’s announcement.
Finally, this will be his last chance to win a Libertadores, as he has announced that he will retire at the end of the year. He has won the competition once, with Flamengo in 2019.
Rafinha still looks for rhythm in the match. Due to a problem with the semitendinosus tendon in his left leg, he took the field in just four games. He thus tries to regain his starting place at San Paolo and collect more than 100 appearances with the tricolor shirt.
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Source: Terra
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