Ernesto Valverde praises Ousmane Dembele’s impact in the Spanish Super Cup, amid speculation about the Frenchman’s future at Barcelona.
Having retired from international football, Gerard Pique says he’s proud to have won trophies with Spain, but wants to focus solely on Barcelona.
Barcelona director Ariedo Braida has said the club are unlikely to try and sign Manchester United’s Paul Pogba this month with Rafinha set to stay at the Camp Nou for now.
On Sunday, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu left the door open to a move for Pogba, while vice president Jordi Mestre told ESPN FC that the club would be open to any “big opportunities” between now and the end of August.
Mundo Deportivo has claimed that Barca will attempt to buy the France international before the transfer window closes in Spain, but Braida suggested those reports are untrue.
“I don’t think we’re going to move for Pogba, but he’s a great player,” he told Radio Sportiva.
Rafinha’s future could be linked to whether or not Barca make any more summer signings.
If he stays, they are unlikely to move for another midfielder despite also having been linked with Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot and Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong.
“Rafinha, quite probably, will stay at Barcelona,” Braida said. “He’s someone with a lot of quality, a player that can decide games with the way he handles the ball — he can go far.
“Last year, he came back from a bad injury, but when he recovered he did great things [on loan] at Inter. He’s a player who has impressive technical skills and he suits Barca very well.”
Rafinha, 25, had looked certain to leave earlier this summer but impressed coach Ernesto Valverde during the tour of the United States and was rewarded with a start in Sunday’s Super Cup win over Sevilla.
However, he may yet push for a move if he feels the competition for places at Camp Nou will reduce his playing time.
Speaking during the U.S. tour, he said the only thing that mattered to him was playing regular football, “be that [at Barca] or somewhere else.”
If Rafinha stays, Barca would have nine players able to play in central midfield although some, such as Sergi Roberto, also play in other positions.
That would make a move for a 10th midfielder less likely, although sources have told ESPN FC that Pogba is not for sale at any price during this window.
Rabiot’s future remains in the air after PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said he could yet leave, while Diario Sport reported that Barca could still strike a deal for De Jong if Ajax fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages.
Be the first to comment