A Barcelona player stirs up controversy by choosing not to celebrate Raphinha’s goal against Borussia Dortmund, expressing his frustration with the Brazilian winger.

Tensions are rising within the Barcelona dressing room, with newly appointed manager Hansi Flick reportedly becoming a divisive figure, even among the squad’s senior players.

This unrest came to light during a recent match against Real Betis, where a heated exchange occurred between Marc-André ter Stegen and Brazilian winger Raphinha following the final whistle. Raphinha, angry at the assistant referee’s decision, aggressively confronted the official and demanded silence. Ter Stegen, unhappy with the winger’s behavior, immediately stepped in to admonish him on the pitch.

Despite Ter Stegen’s attempt to defuse the situation and calm Raphinha down to prevent disciplinary action, the Brazilian responded with aggression, shoving the goalkeeper repeatedly. This only fueled Ter Stegen’s frustration, and the two continued their confrontation in a visibly tense moment.

According to their former teammate Ivan Rakitić, the disagreement carried over into the dressing room, where it escalated into a more serious conflict. Rakitić claimed the relationship between the two players had deteriorated significantly, with communication between them ceasing entirely.

The impact of their fallout became even more apparent during Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. Although Raphinha scored the opening goal in a crucial victory that brought the club closer to a semifinal spot for the first time since 2019, Ter Stegen, sidelined due to a knee injury, refrained from celebrating the goal. Observers noted that his reaction, or lack thereof, was a clear indication of the rift between him and Raphinha.

Adding to the controversy, Raphinha also came under fire for his role in another contentious moment during the match. He intervened at the goal line to tap in a ball that was already heading toward the net from Pau Cubarsi, nearly causing the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Analysts slammed the Brazilian for what they viewed as selfish play and poor sportsmanship, labeling him a “bad teammate.” His decision not only risked a crucial goal for the team but also drew criticism for disregarding Ter Stegen’s injury when he physically confronted him earlier.

The ongoing discord between Raphinha and Ter Stegen, coupled with Flick’s polarizing presence, has raised concerns about internal unity at Barcelona during a critical point in their European campaign.