Rafinha criticizes FIFA Club World Cup: "We are humans, not machines"

Rafinha, the Brazilian international forward of Barcelona, sharply criticized the FIFA Club World Cup today, Friday, defending players' right to vacations, considering them as taking away from the "break" of major European club players who already suffer from a very busy schedule.


Rafinha (28 years old) said, during a promotional event in Sao Paulo: "As a player in a European club, I ask myself: "Shouldn't we be on vacation now?"

He added: "It's complicated for us to have to give up our vacation. We deserve it. Everyone deserves at least 3 weeks or a month of vacation. Many of those participating in the World Cup won't get that. No player was asked if they agreed to these dates".

He continued: "We play a huge number of matches throughout the season, and now they want to take away the only vacation we get? This is unfair. We are humans, not machines".

Rafinha pointed out the situation of his Brazilian compatriots Marquinhos and Lucas Paqueta, who are currently participating in the FIFA Club World Cup with Paris Saint-Germain.