Coritiba Football Club has reached an amicable agreement with popular right-back Rafinha to terminate his contract, following a recent controversy surrounding his unauthorized participation in a Bayern Munich legends event. The decision, made during a board meeting on March 19, 2025, comes after Rafinha was granted permission to travel to Germany for personal reasons but did not disclose his involvement in a celebratory match.
The 39-year-old, who returned to Coritiba early in 2025, was initially seen as a key signing for the club, expected to bring valuable leadership and experience from his extensive career, which includes impressive stints at notable clubs such as Bayern Munich, where he enjoyed significant success with seven Bundesliga titles, a Champions League, and a Club World Cup. However, Rafinha’s actions have disappointed the club’s management, which described the situation as creating a crisis within the team.
Rafinha informed Coritiba's board that he needed to travel to Germany for a legal hearing but failed to mention that he would participate in the Beckenbauer Cup, a celebratory match commemorating Bayern's 125th anniversary. He played alongside other legends of the club, scoring a goal in the final match, where Bayern's legends triumphed. The German side confirmed his participation, sparking outrage among Coritiba fans who felt misled.
Upon his return, the board met with the player to discuss the implications of his actions. "The Coritiba board was unaware of the existence of the tournament. I went by choice and take full responsibility, and if what I did was wrong, I am the only one to blame," Rafinha acknowledged via social media on March 18, 2025.
Despite his attempts to clarify the situation and express regret, including statements of sincerity aimed at the fans and management, the club decided to move forward with an amicable termination of his contract. The agreement is pending some bureaucratic processes, which is expected to finalize Rafinha's liberation from the club.
Having only registered one assist in ten matches for Coritiba amidst a tumultuous season that included early exits from both the Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Paranaense, Rafinha's return, while initially promising, ended with controversy. The Coritiba board had high hopes for the veteran player, believing his experience would help elevate team performance. Unfortunately, this incident overshadowed those expectations.
Rafinha's departure after such a brief tenure as the team captain is reflective of deeper issues, as the club expresses a desire to look toward a more stable future moving forward in the 2025 season. In his farewell messages, Rafinha echoed his commitment to professionalism throughout his career, despite this setback. As he becomes a free agent, his next move remains uncertain.
