Atletico-MG midfielder Rafael Carioca is a doubt for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia next week. The Galo number 5 twisted his ankle in his team’s 1-1 Copa do Brasil draw with Ponte Preta on Wednesday night.
Rafael was called into Tite’s first squad earlier in the week, his first ever call up to the senior squad. However, he was forced to leave the pitch after landing heavily and turning his ankle, even with all of Atletico’s substitutions used, he could not continue.
The midfielder left the stadium with his ankle heavily iced, telling SporTV, “If I could have, I would have gone on. But now we wait. It does not hurt so much now because I have ice on it, but let’s see the effect and see the pain that I feel later.”
Rafael will have a scan on Thursday to assess whether there is any ligament damage, with Brazil and Atletico team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar saying, “Rafael wants to play in Sunday’s game (against Gremio) and for the national team. Let’s wait and do some scans, but certainly the situation is worrying.”