Xavi Has Dressing Room Bust Up With FC Barcelona Star Raphinha Following Girona Substitution: Reports

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez scolded Raphinha in the Camp Nou dressing room after the winger was again visibly frustrated by being substituted in Monday’s 0-0 bore draw with Girona, according to El Nacional.

Furthermore, the Catalan digital newspaper has reported that the manager “can’t stand the player’s insolence” anymore amid rumors he might sold in the summer.

As has been common this season, the Brazilian was not allowed to complete 90 minutes in a Barca match when Xavi hauled him off after 75 in the La Liga clash to give veteran left back Jordi Alba a run out.

When this happened at the same ground in February, when the Catalans hosted Manchester United in a Europa League playoff first leg, Raphinha was furious with being replaced.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 26-year-old kicked a drinks refrigerator in a tantrum which caused an injury and played a part in him being dropped in favor of positional rival Ferran Torres.

Xavi defended his charge in public on this occasion, however, and commended the Porto Alegre’s attitude in wanting to play as much as possibly. Raphinha apologized, and has since been welcomed back into the fold taking the spot on the right flank made vacant by Ousmane Dembele’s injury.

Form in the Frenchman’s absence has been mixed. And though Raphinha scored important only-goal-of-the-game winners against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao that were worth an extra four points and have contributed to Barca going 13 clear at the top of the table, he has gone missing as of late in last week’s Copa del Rey semi-final drubbing administered by Real Madrid and Girona’s visit.

In the Catalan derby on Easter Monday, it should have been no surprise that Raphinha was hooked given his poor performance in one-on-one situations and delivery into the box.

The number ’22’ couldn’t hide his displeasure with the development, however, which according to El Nacional caused Xavi to take him to one side and give him a dressing down in the Camp Nou dressing room.

Xavi reportedly told Raphinha that he has to accept substitutions as he has teammates on the bench who also deserve to play, and that orders and decisions are made by him – the head coach.

Amid reports from SPORT that Barca will listen to offers for him this summer, the €58 million ($63.3 million) signing from Leeds United in 2022 appears to be running out of time to turn things round in Catalonia while patience with him is running thin.