Mazinho says Rafinha needs to leave Barça to play regularly

Rafinha's father and agent Mazinho has said his son needs to leave Barcelona in order to play regular football. 

The Brazilian midfielder has been in and out of the Barça team this season, replacing Lionel Messi when he was first out injured before dropping out of the team again. 

"It's crazy, he can't understand anything," Mazinho told Radio Galicia Sport. "Only the coach knows what he has or doesn't have. The truth is that we're trying to get Rafa into a situation where he plays regularly. 

"We have to look for an exit because it's really complicated for him here [at Barcelona]. It's been basically two years hardly playing and he needs a club to give him 30 or 40 games a season. 

"Here, when you have three games in a row, then you're cut [from the team] The coach has in his head his way of working, but for the player... [Rafinha] has done well in preseason, he's had some spectacular games. He doesn't understand it. 

"This is football, it's normal, of course, and we have to be happy because we're at a great club. But we need to leave to play more." 

In this sense, a January exit's not been ruled out: "If there are interested clubs, Barça are interested in a transfer and the player's happy, we will work together."