A flight change and a father’s dream - BRAZIL
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| FIFA.com |
“I was playing the guitar,” said a young Spanish citizen. “I’d been thinking about the trip [to Le Mans].”
The Gallo-Roman walls, fine arts museum, botanical gardens, Le Cathédrale Saint-Julien. Perhaps even a visit to the Circuit de la Sarthe, where the Le Mans 24 Hours – the world’s oldest existing sports car race – unfolds.
That was until the phone rang and the 22-year-old was informed his journey had been cancelled. You may be surprised to hear his reaction.
“I was monstrously happy!” he exclaimed. Rafinha Alcantara had, after all, been told that he had been dropped from Brazil’s Olympic squad for a friendly against France in order to represent the senior Seleção alongside the world’s most expensive defender, a FIFA Ballon d’Or recipient and a man en route to outranking Pele as the futebol titans’ all-time leading marksman.
The latter was, indirectly, behind the Barcelona No12’s call-up. Mumps sickened Neymar. Rafinha deputised. The little trickster scored in a thrilling 5-4 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup and glistened against Athletic Bilbao.
Dunga’s eyes were on those run-outs in Tbilisi and Basque Country. So, when Ramires and Oscar pulled out of the Brazil squad for the friendlies against Costa Rica and USA, the coach predictably turned to Philippe Coutinho and unexpectedly handed Rafinha his maiden invitation.
Merely two days after that phone call, Rafinha was on a flight from Catalonia to New Jersey. During the journey, Neymar snapped a selfie with his ‘brother’, which he shared with his 30.6 million followers on Instagram – a record for a footballer – accompanied by the caption: “Sailor on his first voyage!”
That virgin voyage almost didn’t take place. Rafinha was born in Sao Paulo but spent a good deal of his upbringing in Spain, where his father – 1994 FIFA World Cup™ winner Mazinho – played for Valencia, Celta Vigo and Elche. His brother Thiago Alcantara (born in Italy) and cousin Rodrigo (born in Rio de Janeiro) both represented La Roja at youth and senior levels. Rafinha, by contrast, played for the Spanish U-16, U-17 and U-19 sides before pledging his allegiance to Brazil.
“I chose Brazil because I’ve always felt Brazilian,” he said. “It was easy. It wasn’t that easy for my brother, but I’ve always wanted to play for Brazil. There was always joking with Thiago. He always had the opportunity to play for Spain. He made his choice and is happy because of this. Me and my dad always tried to urge him towards Brazil, but it didn’t work.”
Mazinho, whose daughter is an aspiring basketballer in Vigo, recently expressed his disappointment that Thiago chose to represent Spain: “I was very sad. I represented my national team for many years and wanted my children to do the same.”
Rafinha, who touched down in ‘The Garden State’ fittingly wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap, could now fulfil his father’s wish in Harrison, New Jersey on Saturday or Foxborough, Massachusetts three days later – dates Dunga described as “solid last tests” for his side heading into Russia 2018 qualifying. Only a penalty shootout loss to the Netherlands denied Costa Rica a semi-final place at Brazil 2014, while USA surfaced from a pool in which they seemed destined to drown before being outlasted by Belgium in a sizzling 120-minute slugfest in the Round of 16.
“I’m loving being here,” said Rafinha. “It’s always great to be around Neymar. He introduced me to everybody and showed me how things work in the Seleção. He’s a big mate, but here he’s the captain. Friendship doesn’t exist, just respect.”
Neymar will not, however, sport the armband when Brazil begin their bid to reach Russia next month. The five-time world champions’ most recent quest for a sixth star unravelled when injury ended the forward’s tournament, and the talismanic 23-year-old will miss the opening two 2018 qualifiers through suspension.
Dunga has hinted that he will rotate his offensive ammunition – Douglas Costa, Hulk, Kaka, Lucas Lima, Lucas Moura, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Willian are also in the squad – over 180 minutes in Eastern America as he strives to determine which quartet will line up against Chile and Venezuela. “I really hope I get a chance to play,” said Rafinha.
Rafinha absolutely relished his last trip Stateside. He fulfilled “a dream” by appearing in front of 93,000-plus in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, where his dad helped Brazil lift the World Cup Trophy. He witnessed San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics – separated only by a striking self-anchored suspension bridge – duke it out in baseball’s ‘Battle of the Bay’. He got to mess around with an American football at 49ers Stadium (he’s quite a fan). He netted a flying volley against Manchester United. He even got to meet his idols Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather.
The only downside? “I missed my girls,” Rafinha confessed with a smile after landing in Barcelona in August. The 'girls' Rafa was referring to were his beloved guitars. His other idols, you see, include the late, great B.B King, Slash of Guns N’ Roses fame, and Bob Dylan.
Rafinha Alcantara now hopes his latest US adventure leaves him knock, knock, knockin’ on Dunga’s door for a return to the Americas in early October.