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ARLINGTON, Tx. — Rafinha said he would love to see brother Thiago return to Barcelona from Bayern Munich this summer, but left his own future at the club up in the air.
Sources have confirmed to ESPN FC that Barca, who have already made three signings this season, are still in the market for another central midfielder.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot is their top target, but Thiago, who left the club for Bayern in 2013, has also been linked.
“I would like to see Thiago at Barcelona again,” Rafinha said in a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s game against Roma at the AT&T Stadium in the International Champions Cup.
“I think he would fit in perfectly with the team’s style of play.”
However, Rafinha may not be around if Barca do make a move to bring Thiago back from the Bundesliga this summer.
After returning from a successful loan spell with Inter Milan, he has drawn interest from a number of clubs this summer, ranging from Lazio to Tottenham.
“Honestly, if I knew my future, I would tell you,” he said to repeated questions about where he will be when the transfer market closes next month.
“A lot of teams have been linked with me, that’s true, but I’m not thinking about these things. It’s not to do with me, other people are working on it.”
Pressed on if he wants to stay at Barca, he added: “All players want to play football. They want to be where they can play the most minutes. It’s the same for me — whether that’s here or somewhere else.”
Rafinha and Sergi Roberto.
Rafinha, who set up both goals in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham, is expected to start against Roma in a side captained by Sergi Roberto in the continued absence of the players who took part in the World Cup.
Sergi Roberto thought he would be part of that group of players until he was left out of the Spain squad by Julen Lopetegui, but things could change now former Barca boss Luis Enrique has taken over La Roja.
“Honestly, I thought I was going to get called up,” he said. “I wasn’t, so that gave me a good chance to have a longer holiday — I was able to watch [the World Cup] on television.
“I have always said that Luis Enrique has been very important in my career, both with Barca B and the first team.
“It’s true he’s now the Spain coach but I am just focused on giving my best and, if in the end I get the call from Luis, I’ll be really happy, but that depends on how I play for Barca.”
Coach Ernesto Valverde mainly used Sergi Roberto as a right-back last season and the midfielder is happy to play wherever as long as he keeps improving.
“I am still young and I know I can still improve,” he added. “I want to keep playing minutes, wherever they may be on the pitch, enjoying myself and try to improve as a player and help the team as much as I can.”
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