Rafinha has declined a call-up to the Brazilian national team, according to a statement released by the CBF. The move has been done so that Rafinha can pursue his German citizenship in order to play for Germany.
The CBF acknowledged that in Rafinha's request, he stated that he was declining the call-up due to their being multiple players at the right back position ahead of him. It is expected that he was only called up this time due to the number of injuries that Brazil is facing at the moment. They accepted his request and released him from his call-up due to wanting only players that were committed to playing for Brazil.
They acknowledge in their statement that Rafinha is pursuing his German citizenship and the opportunity to play for the German national team. This seemingly confirms all the rumors in the German press over the last few months.
Rafinha has lived in Germany since the summer of 2005 and has claimed Germany as his residence ever since, even during his one year in Genoa. Based on this information, once Rafinha has received his German citizenship, he will be able to file with FIFA for his "one time switch" declaring him eligible for the German national team.
Full statement from the CBF in Portuguese:
A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol recebeu uma correspondência de Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza (Rafinha), na qual o atleta solicita a "liberação" de sua convocação para a Seleção Brasileira.
É de se enaltecer a sinceridade do atleta: "Não venho sendo chamado regularmente, não sou uma das principais opções em minha posição, considerando que há outros profissionais na minha frente".
Rafinha pretende tornar-se cidadão da Alemanha, país em que está há 11 anos.
Respeitamos a opção do jogador, elogiamos a sua transparência e estamos executando o cancelamento da convocação de Rafinha. A CBF entende que somente jogadores integralmente comprometidos com a Seleção e nossa filosofia de trabalho podem fazer parte do grupo que representa o Brasil pelos gramados de todo o mundo.