Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Arda agent 'not optimistic' after Barcelona ask Fifa to let winger play

Barcelona have asked Fifa for permission to play summer signing Arda Turan following the injury to Rafinha, but the midfielder's agent says he is "not optimistic" that the club will receive an affirmative answer.

Barca were banned from registering new players by Fifa in 2015 due to irregularities in the signing of young players for their La Masia academy, but the Catalan club still brought in Aleix Vidal and Arda in the summer with a view to handing the pair their debuts in January.

However, rules in Spain dictate that a team can register a player in La Liga and the Copa del Rey if they lose another to long-term injury, though coach Luis Enrique has already said that world football's governing body had previously told the club it would be unable to sign a new player in that case.

Still, Barca have appealed to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and to Fifa after Rafinha suffered cruciate ligament damage against Roma in the Champions League last week, which has ruled the 22-year-old out for around six months.

Turan, who signed from Atletico Madrid in a €34 million deal in the summer, posted a tweet on Tuesday with an image of himself alongside Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in which he hinted at linking up with his team-mates in the coming days as he wrote: "The gang. Looking forward to playing together..."

But Arda's agent, Ahmed Bulut, told Cadena Cope: "He is happy with the possibility of playing before January, but we aren't optimistic about what Fifa will say. We hope Fifa will respond this week."

Bulut also added that his client is fit and raring to go if needed.

"He is physically and mentally prepared to compete," he said. "He has played two matches with Turkey this month in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. It has been difficult for him to adapt to five months without playing, but he has been lucky because he has felt comfortable in the team."

And speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of his side's Liga game at Celta Vigo on Wednesday, Barca boss Luis Enrique said: "Arda and Aleix Vidal would already be playing if we were allowed to reigister them."

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