Raphinha eager to deliver for Ancelotti as Brazil get set for World Cup bid

Brazil star Raphinha intends to repay the faith shown in him by new coach Carlo Ancelotti at the World Cup after frequently proving to be the nemesis of the Italian during past encounters at club level.

The pair came up against each other over three years in Spain when the 29-year-old forward was at Barcelona and Ancelotti was on the Real Madrid bench.

Ancelotti left Madrid at the end of last season, after a campaign in which Raphinha scored as he captained Barca to a 4-0 win at the Bernabeu in La Liga and netted twice as the Catalans won 4-3 in the reverse fixture, en route to taking the title.

He also featured in the Barcelona teams that beat Ancelotti’s Real in the finals of the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.