Ernesto Valverde: "Rafinha will stay here with us"

Rafinha has been one of the most talked about names in this transfer window. After his loan spell at Inter came to an end, it appeared the midfielder had one foot out of the door at the Camp Nou. However his performances throughout preseason and the trust Ernesto Valverde has put in him suggests he will play a role in Barcelona's upcoming season.

Ahead of Barça's league debut against Alaves, Valverde has gone one step further and given Rafinha his backing for this season. "He's a member of the squad and, as it stands, he will stay with us." The coach doesn't want Barça to sell the Brazilian midfielder before the transfer window closes on the 31st August.

"On the 31st August at 00:00 is when everything closes and I think that's it. When it reaches closer to that deadline there are lots of rumours flying around, but there you go. He's with us and the only thing which has changed in respect to last year is that he's spent a long period of time out injured. We spoke with him and searched for a solution in the January transfer window because the team was already complete and he needed regular minutes. This year we've seen him from the beginning."

His performances throughout preseason, where he's been one of the team's best players, has increased his chances of forming part of the first team squad this season. And Valverde couldn't be happier about that.