He started his career with Barcelona, making his debut with the first team in 2011. After a loan at Celta, he played his first La Liga match for the former club in 2014. In October 2020, he signed with Paris Saint-Germain.
Rafinha represented both Spain and Brazil at youth level, before debuting with the latter as a senior in 2015.
Club career
Barcelona
Born in São Paulo, Brazil,[4] Rafinha joined Barcelona's youth ranks at the age of 13. On 8 January 2011 he made his professional debut with the B team, coming on as a substitute for Jonathan dos Santos in the 55th minute of a 2–1 home loss against Girona in the Segunda División.[5] A week later, again off the bench and in the same competition, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win at Salamanca, also adding an assist.[6]
Rafinha made his debut with the senior Barcelona squad on 9 November 2011, taking the place of Cesc Fàbregas for the last 15 minutes of a 1–0 away victory over Hospitalet in the Copa del Rey.[7] He finished the league season with 39 games – 35 starts – and eight goals for the reserves, including two in a 4–0 defeat of Cartagena on 4 September of the same year.[8]
On 27 June 2013, Rafinha extended his contract with Barça, keeping him at the club until 2016.[9] A few weeks later, he was loaned to fellow La Liga team Celta,[10] and made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 19 August, helping the Galicians to a 2–2 home draw against Espanyol.[11] He scored his first league goal 12 days later in another draw at the Balaídos (1–1, with Granada).[12]
Rafinha scored his first goal for the Blaugrana on 3 December 2014, concluding a 4–0 away win against Huesca in the first leg of the Spanish Cup's last 32 (12–1 aggregate).[17] The following 1 February, he recorded his first goal for the team in the domestic league, part of a 3–2 home defeat of Villarreal.[18] They went on to win the treble, with the player being an unused substitute in the domestic and European finals.
With compatriot Neymar out through illness, Rafinha started on the left of Barcelona's attack in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla in Tbilisi, scoring the third goal in a 5–4 win.[19] On 16 September he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament during the 1–1 away draw to Roma in the Champions League group phase, leaving the game on a stretcher after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Radja Nainggolan; after surgery, he was expected to be out for about six months.[20]
Rafinha scored six times in only 18 appearances in the 2016–17 campaign, but also had to undergo surgery to an internal meniscus ailment following a match against Granada in April 2017, going on to be sidelined until the end of the year.[21][22]
On 22 January 2018, Inter Milan announced the acquisition of Rafinha on a loan with an option to buy for €35 million.[23][24] He made his debut for the club six days later by entering in the last moments of the 1–1 draw against S.P.A.L.[25] He scored his first goal on 6 May, in the 4–0 away victory over Udinese.[26]
On 24 November 2018, Rafinha ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during a 1–1 draw at Atlético Madrid, being again sidelined for several months.[27] On 2 September 2019, immediately after extending his contract until 2021,[28] he rejoined Celta on a season-long loan.[29]
On 27 December 2021, Rafinha joined Real Sociedad on loan for the remainder of the season.[32] He scored his only goal the following 13 February, closing the 2–0 home defeat of Granada.[33]
In September 2015, Rafinha was called up by Dunga for friendlies against Costa Rica and the United States. On 5 September, he entered the former game at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena in the 81st minute in place of Luiz Gustavo.[42] Four days later, a minute after taking the field against the latter, he scored his first goal, then assisted clubmate Neymar in a 4–1 win.[43]
Personal life
Rafinha's father, Mazinho, was also a footballer and a midfielder, notably winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup with Brazil. His mother Valéria played volleyball, while his older brother, Thiago – another midfielder – also emerged through Barcelona's youth ranks, going on to represent its first team and the Spain national side.[44]
Rodrigo, who played youth football with Real Madrid and went on to spend several seasons with Benfica and Valencia, is a lifelong friend who has erroneously been referred to as Rafinha's cousin.[45][46]
^Roura, Conchita (21 August 2009). "Thiago y Jonathan, ADN fútbol" [Thiago and Jonathan, football DNA]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 January 2011.
^Navarro, Cristina (5 December 2012). "Primos en el césped" [Cousins on the pitch]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2012.