Barcelona’s Brazilian star Raphinha thinks footballers should get their well-deserved vacation, even though there’s now a bigger Club World Cup. He said it’s not fair that players have to skip their break just because there’s a new tournament.
The first expanded Club World Cup started on June 14 and goes until July 13. That’s right after the European season ended in late May, plus there were international games at the beginning of June. So, there’s barely any break at all!
Raphinha explained, “If you play for a European team, like me, this is when we’d usually be on vacation. But now, players like Marquinhos and Beraldo from Paris Saint-Germain finished the Champions League, went straight to the national team, and then on to the Club World Cup. They haven’t had any time off!”
He knows some people might say players are just making excuses, but Raphinha thinks it’s a real problem. “It’s our right to get a vacation,” he said. “Everyone deserves at least a month off, but now many players won’t get that.”
Most top leagues in Europe will start up again in August, and preseason training is even earlier. So if PSG make it to the Club World Cup final, they’ll have to play the Super Cup almost immediately after—no break at all.
Raphinha said, “From my point of view, it’s really tough to be forced to give up your vacation for a new tournament. No one asked the players if they wanted to do it. I think we should have a say. Having to play when you should be resting is just too much.”
For example, PSG will have to play Tottenham Hotspur for the Super Cup on August 13, right after the Club World Cup finishes.
