For more on Rakitic and Rafinha rumors, check out the latest edition of The Barcelona Podcast:
Rafinha to Real Betis, loan or buy?
The rumor of the week involves Rafinha to Real Betis, but it is much more than a rumor. Clearly negotiations between the La Liga clubs are ongoing, with the separation between the two being whether or not the player would be loaned or sold. If Barcelona are done bringing in players, it’s a wonder why they would allow a player like Rafinha to leave, but the player’s own ambitions of reaching his potential as a regular starter should be taken into account.
Rakitic to Paris, Fact or Fallacy?
If the Rafinha business is working its way down the track, the concept of Ivan Rakitic leaving FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain hasn’t left the station yet. A lot of money would need to change hands in a short amount of time for everything to work, but it would be difficult for Barcelona to turn it down if PSG sent the kind of funds that are being reported. That said, would Lionel Messi’s vision of challenging in the Champions League this season have a better chance of success with Rakitic in midfield or a bag of money in the bank?
Poor Jasper Cillessen has had a few unfortunate weeks. The Dutch goalkeeper didn’t get the move that would have given him a starting role, and instead finds himself on the shelf with an injury to the ribs. This week Barcelona will face off against former first team third choice, Jordi Masip, when they head to Real Valladolid. The back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the meantime will 22-year-old Barcelona B goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta. While the young goalie went with Ernesto Valverde to the United States for their preseason tour, he did not see match action.
Multiple outlets have reported that Paco Alcacer has plenty of options, including Germany with Borussia Dortmund, the Premier League and La Liga. For all those different possibilities, the Spanish striker remains with the club and did not make the bench for the opening match against Deportivo Alaves. The coaching staff doesn’t seem to trust Munir El Haddadi much either, but the younger attacker appears to be above Alcacer on the depth chart.
Andres Iniesta reunites with Fernando Torres
Andres Iniesta isn’t the only former Spanish star and La Liga legend who took their game to Japan this season. Fernando Torres may have won their reunion on the field, with both players coming off the bench for their clubs, but both greats of the game were happy to be reunited halfway across the world.
