SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 26: Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha of FC Barcelona look on prior to the Copa del Rey Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Monday’s reports claim that the Italy national team made attempts to convince Barcelona star Raphinha to play for the Azzurri while Roberto Mancini was still in charge back in 2020.

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday morning, the FIGC made ‘strong attempts’ to convince Raphinha to play for the Italy national team in 2020, prior to his senior national team debut with Brazil in 2021.

The 28-year-old was still playing in the Premier League with Leeds United at the time, ahead of his big move to Barcelona in the summer of 2022.

Raphinha was eligible to play for Italy through his father, Rafael Dias Belloli, who is of Italian descent.

Through his dad, Raphinha also holds an Italian passport, which means that he does not count as a non-EU player in Barcelona’s squad despite representing Brazil at international level.

Barcelona director Deco had also confirmed back in 2021 that there had been approaches from the FIGC to lure Raphinha to Coverciano, stating in an interview: “There was a strong survey from the Italian federation last year.”