€50 million-rated Barcelona forward no longer guaranteed of a starting spot – report

Barcelona secured a morale-boosting 4-2 win over Real Betis away at the Benito Villamarin in La Liga on Sunday night. Given the circumstances, the result will have done the team’s confidence a world of good.

Two players, in particular, stood out in the victory last night, with Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal, absolutely tearing apart the Real Betis defence.

Torres ended the game with a hat-trick while Yamal finished with an assist and a hand in almost every positive move Barcelona made in attack.

Raphinha’s spot no longer guaranteed

Ferran Torres has been in fine form in recent games and has well and truly established himself as a starter again. And Yamal’s performance last night was, in all fairness, a coming-of-age display, which should earn him a spot in the starting XI.

As such, it leaves Barcelona winger Raphinha in a spot of bother as he is no longer a guaranteed starter when he returns from injury, reports SPORT.

The Brazilian attacker, whose market value stands at €50 million, had taken over the right flank for Barça following the departure of Ousmane Dembele in the summer transfer window.

Excelling. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

An injury earlier in the season saw him lose his place, but he eventually regained it and was a regular starter in attack, along with Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix.

But now with Ferran and Yamal growing in stature, Felix has already lost his place in the team in recent games and Raphinha could also face the same fate when he is back from injury.

When will Raphinha return?

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against CA Osasuna.

The winger is expected to be out for a month at least and as such the expectation is for him to be back in time for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Napoli in February.