At the time, Raphinha was being heavily pursued by Italy, and he had a strong connection with the team's staff, particularly midfielder Jorginho. The Italian team had a compelling project for him, which impressed Raphinha greatly.

However, Raphinha also had a lingering hope of playing for Brazil, and fate intervened when his passport didn't arrive in time for the 2020 European Championship. This meant he was unable to join Italy and instead stayed with Brazil, where he has since become an important player for the team.

Raphinha's story is a testament to the complexities of international football and the many factors that can influence a player's decision to represent a particular country.