Rafa Alcântara

Rafinha, November 2012

Rafael Alcantara do Nascimento (born 12 February 1993 São Paulo, Brazil), called Rafinha or Rafa Alcántara, is a Spanish- Brazilian footballer who is currently on loan from FC Barcelona Celta Vigo. The footed playing on the position of attacking midfielder.

Career

Rafinha came at the age of twelve years for FC Barcelona and played until early 2011 in its youth teams. Because of the staff shortage in midfield, which was created by the injuries of Carmona and Romeu, Rafinha was appointed in January 2011 in the B team. His debut in the second team he was on 8 January 2011 and replaced while Jonathan dos Santos in the 55th minute. The game against FC Girona was lost 1:2. At follow- Round he came early for the injured Sergi Roberto into the game and could for his team's 3-2 win over UD Salamanca promptly contribute a goal and an assist. At the end of the season 2010/11 he won with the A in the Copa de Campeones youth. In the finals against Real Madrid, he contributed two goals for a 3-1 victory of his team.

His debut for the first team at Barca he was on 9 November 2011 for the cup tie against l' Hospitalet CE, in which he came off the bench for a quarter of an hour before the game ends for Cesc Fabregas. On December 6, 2011, he was nominated by coach Josep Guardiola for the Champions League against BATE Borisov game and put in the starting lineup.

For the 2013/14 season Rafinha was loaned to Celta Vigo.

With the Spanish U- 17 team to Rafinha qualified for the 2010 European Championship in Liechtenstein. However, Rafinha found, although he denied all the games in qualifying, not taken into account in the squad for the finals. But he came in 2010 at age 17 already his first appearance for Spain's U- 19th In 2013 he played with the Brazilian U -20 team the South American Championship in Argentina. He graduated from three games, his team resigned in the first group stage as Table from.

Family

Rafinha father Mazinho was also football player and was with Brazil 1994 world champion. His mother, Valéria once played professional volleyball. His older brother Thiago is also football player and plays for Bayern Munich. Also Thiago was previously active in the youth teams of FC Barcelona, ​​and the junior national teams.

Achievements

• UEFA Super Cup: 2011

Others

His nickname Rafinha he uses for an indoor tournament in Vigo, where he grew up.